Proving the Equality of Two Fractions Using Algebra

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kara386
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Fractions
AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on proving the equality of two fractions involving square roots and algebraic manipulation. The user initially attempts to square the expression but realizes they make an algebraic error in simplification. They later discover that multiplying the terms by appropriate fractions helps clarify the equation. By finding a common denominator, they arrive at a more manageable expression that leads to the desired result. The conversation highlights the importance of careful algebraic manipulation in proving mathematical identities.
Kara386
Messages
204
Reaction score
2

Homework Statement


This is something I need to show in order to solve the question I've been asked. I need to show that
##\sqrt{\frac{N_A}{N_D} } + \sqrt{\frac{N_D}{N_A} } = \frac{N_A + N_B}{\sqrt{N_A N_B}}##
I know these two sides are equal because wolfram alpha says they are, and also because it works if I sub that into my proof. But I'm doing something really really really stupid I think, because I can't get there.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


I thought it might be easiest to square this and simplify, then square root. So
##(\sqrt{\frac{N_A}{N_D} } + \sqrt{\frac{N_D}{N_A} })^2 = \frac{N_A}{N_D} + 2\sqrt{\frac{N_A N_B}{N_A N_B}} + \frac{N_D}{N_A}##
I suspect that's the step that's wrong but I don't know why. Carrying on anyway:
##= \frac{N_A}{N_D} + \frac{N_D}{N_A} + 2##
Finding a common denominator:

##= \frac{N_A N_D + N_D N_A + 2N_A N_D}{N_A N_D}##
Then finally square rooting again:
##=2##
So that's very different to what I'm after and there is some really awful algebra mistake in there. Unfortunately I can't find it, any help would be very much appreciated! :)
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Oh yes, that is me being pretty stupid. Could just multiply first term by ##\frac{N_A}{N_A}## and the second term by ##\frac{N_D}{N_D}##, then:
##\sqrt{\frac{N_A^2}{N_A N_D}} + \sqrt{\frac{N_D^2}{N_A N_D} }= \frac{N_A}{\sqrt{N_A N_D}} + \frac{N_D}{\sqrt{N_A N_D}}##
 
Kara386 said:
Finding a common denominator
leads to ##N_A^2 + 2N_A N_D + N_D^2 \over N_A N_D## :rolleyes:
 
  • Like
Likes Kara386
BvU said:
leads to ##N_A^2 + 2N_A N_D + N_D^2 \over N_A N_D## :rolleyes:
Ah, that too! :smile: Oops! Thank you, I was never going to get that.
 
I tried to combine those 2 formulas but it didn't work. I tried using another case where there are 2 red balls and 2 blue balls only so when combining the formula I got ##\frac{(4-1)!}{2!2!}=\frac{3}{2}## which does not make sense. Is there any formula to calculate cyclic permutation of identical objects or I have to do it by listing all the possibilities? Thanks
Essentially I just have this problem that I'm stuck on, on a sheet about complex numbers: Show that, for ##|r|<1,## $$1+r\cos(x)+r^2\cos(2x)+r^3\cos(3x)...=\frac{1-r\cos(x)}{1-2r\cos(x)+r^2}$$ My first thought was to express it as a geometric series, where the real part of the sum of the series would be the series you see above: $$1+re^{ix}+r^2e^{2ix}+r^3e^{3ix}...$$ The sum of this series is just: $$\frac{(re^{ix})^n-1}{re^{ix} - 1}$$ I'm having some trouble trying to figure out what to...
Back
Top