MHB How to Solve a System of Equations with Square Roots?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Albert1
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on solving a system of equations involving square roots. The equations are x + y + 9/x + 4/y = 10 and (x^2 + 9)(y^2 + 4) = 24xy. It is established that both x and y must be positive for the equations to hold true. By substituting u = √x and v = √y, the problem simplifies, leading to the conclusion that x = 3 and y = 2. The solution is confirmed as both values satisfy the original equations.
Albert1
Messages
1,221
Reaction score
0
$x,y\in R$
$find \,\ solution \,\,of \,\,x\,\, and\,\, y:$
$\left\{\begin{matrix}
x+y+\dfrac{9}{x}+\dfrac{4}{y}=10---(1)\\
(x^2+9)(y^2+4)=24xy---(2)
\end{matrix}\right.$
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
Albert said:
$x,y\in R$
$find \,\ solution \,\,of \,\,x\,\, and\,\, y:$
$\left\{\begin{matrix}
x+y+\dfrac{9}{x}+\dfrac{4}{y}=10---(1)\\
(x^2+9)(y^2+4)=24xy---(2)
\end{matrix}\right.$
One real solution: x=3, y=2
 
My attempt:

From (2), we get ($x,y \ne 0$):\[xy\left ( x+\frac{9}{x} \right )\left ( y+\frac{4}{y} \right )=24xy\]

or

\[\left ( x+\frac{9}{x} \right )\left ( y+\frac{4}{y} \right )=24\].Let $a = x+\frac{9}{x}$ and $b = y+\frac{4}{y}$. Then the two equations read:\[a + b = 10\: \: \wedge \: \: ab = 24\]So either $a = 4$ and $b = 6$ or vice versa.Case I.
$a = 4$: The corresponding quadratic expression: $x^2-4x+9 = 0$, has no real roots and it makes no sense
to search for a y-root.Case II.
$a = 6$: The corresponding quadratic expression:$ x^2-6x+9 = (x-3)^2$.
$b = 4$: $y^2-4y+4 = (y-2)^2$.

Thus the only solution is the pair: $(x,y) = (3,2)$.
 
Albert said:
$x,y\in R$
$find \,\ solution \,\,of \,\,x\,\, and\,\, y:$
$\left\{\begin{matrix}
x+y+\dfrac{9}{x}+\dfrac{4}{y}=10---(1)\\
(x^2+9)(y^2+4)=24xy---(2)
\end{matrix}\right.$
[sp]The left side of (2) is positive, so $x$ and $y$ are either both positive or both negative. If they are both negative then (1) cannot hold. So they are both positive.

Let $u = \sqrt x$, $v = \sqrt y.$ Then $$\Bigl(u - \dfrac3u\Bigr)^2 + \Bigl(v - \dfrac2v\Bigr)^2 = u^2 - 6 + \frac9{u^2} + v^2 - 4 + \frac4{v^2} = x+y+\dfrac{9}{x}+\dfrac{4}{y}-10 = 0.$$ Therefore $u - \dfrac3u = v - \dfrac2v = 0$, so that $x = u^2 = 3$ and $y = v^2 = 2.$[/sp]
 
Last edited:
Thread 'Video on imaginary numbers and some queries'
Hi, I was watching the following video. I found some points confusing. Could you please help me to understand the gaps? Thanks, in advance! Question 1: Around 4:22, the video says the following. So for those mathematicians, negative numbers didn't exist. You could subtract, that is find the difference between two positive quantities, but you couldn't have a negative answer or negative coefficients. Mathematicians were so averse to negative numbers that there was no single quadratic...
Insights auto threads is broken atm, so I'm manually creating these for new Insight articles. In Dirac’s Principles of Quantum Mechanics published in 1930 he introduced a “convenient notation” he referred to as a “delta function” which he treated as a continuum analog to the discrete Kronecker delta. The Kronecker delta is simply the indexed components of the identity operator in matrix algebra Source: https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/what-exactly-is-diracs-delta-function/ by...
Thread 'Unit Circle Double Angle Derivations'
Here I made a terrible mistake of assuming this to be an equilateral triangle and set 2sinx=1 => x=pi/6. Although this did derive the double angle formulas it also led into a terrible mess trying to find all the combinations of sides. I must have been tired and just assumed 6x=180 and 2sinx=1. By that time, I was so mindset that I nearly scolded a person for even saying 90-x. I wonder if this is a case of biased observation that seeks to dis credit me like Jesus of Nazareth since in reality...

Similar threads

Replies
3
Views
1K
Replies
7
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
8
Views
1K
Replies
6
Views
1K
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
3
Views
1K
Back
Top