Solve for ##u## and ##v## in the given equations

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around solving for the variables ##u## and ##v## in a set of simultaneous equations involving their sums and differences. The equations include relationships such as ##u-v=\dfrac{1}{6(u+v)}## and ##\dfrac{1}{u+v} + 12(u+v)=8##, indicating a focus on algebraic manipulation and quadratic equations.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore various algebraic manipulations and substitutions, such as letting ##u+v=m## and deriving quadratic equations from the given relationships. Some suggest alternative approaches involving different variable definitions, while others express uncertainty about the effectiveness of their methods.

Discussion Status

Multiple approaches have been presented, with some participants noting potential errors in calculations or assumptions. There is an ongoing exploration of different interpretations of the equations, and while some participants have arrived at specific values for ##u## and ##v##, there is no explicit consensus on the correctness of these values.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of homework rules, which may limit the extent of guidance provided. There are also indications of potential typographical errors in the equations, which may affect the discussion.

chwala
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Homework Statement
See attached.
Relevant Equations
Understanding of simultaneous equations
1693395062637.png


In my approach i have:

##u-v=\dfrac{1}{6(u+v)}##

##\dfrac{1}{u+v} + 12(u+v)=8##

##1+12(u+v)^2=8(u+v)##

Let

##u+v=m##

then we shall have,

##12m^2-8m+1=0##

##m_1=\dfrac{1}{2}## and ##m_2=\dfrac{1}{6}##

Using ##m_2=\dfrac{1}{6}## and considering
##(u+v)(u-v)=\dfrac{1}{6}##
then,
##\dfrac{1}{6} (u-v)=\dfrac{1}{6}##

then we shall have the simultaneous equation,

##u-v=1##
##u+v=\dfrac{1}{6}## giving us
##u=\dfrac{7}{12} ⇒v=-\dfrac{5}{12}##

also using

##m_1=\dfrac{1}{2}##
then we shall have the simultaneous equation,
##u-v=\dfrac{1}{3}##
##u+v=\dfrac{1}{2}## giving us
##u=\dfrac{5}{12} ⇒v=\dfrac{1}{12}##

There may be another approach hence my post. Cheers.
 
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chwala said:
Homework Statement: See attached.
Relevant Equations: Understanding of simultaneous equations

There may be another approach
I would have started ##\frac 1{u+v}+\frac 2{u-v}=\frac{u-v+2(u+v)}{u^2-v^2}=(3u+v)6##.
No idea whether that is better.
 
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haruspex said:
I would have started ##\frac 1{u+v}+\frac 2{u-v}=\frac{u-v+2(u+v)}{u^2-v^2}=(3u+v)6##.
No idea whether that is better.
@haruspex let me check that out...
 
The other approach to this question though tedious

From,
##(u+v)(u-v)=\dfrac{1}{6}##

and noting that,

##3u-v=\dfrac{4}{3}## from the first equation then,

##(u+\dfrac{4}{3}-3u)(u+\dfrac{4}{3}+3u)=\dfrac{1}{6}##

...

##\dfrac{72u-16-72u^2}{9}=\dfrac{1}{6}##

##-432u^2+432u-96=9##

##432u^2-432u+105=0##

##144u^2-144u+35=0##

##u =\dfrac{144±\sqrt {20736-20160}}{288} ##

##= \dfrac{144±24}{288}##

##u_1=\dfrac{7}{12} ⇒v_1 = \dfrac{-5}{12}##

##u_2=\dfrac{5}{12} ⇒v_1 = \dfrac{1}{12}##
 
You are given ##\frac 1{u+v} + \frac 2{u-v} = 8## and ##(u+v)(u-v) = \frac 16##. An apprach is...

Let ##x = u+v## and ##y = u-v##. Also maybe use symbols for the constants: with ##a=2, b=8,## and ##c = \frac 16## the equations become:

##\frac 1x + \frac ay =b## and ##xy = c##.

From the first one ##y + ax = bxy##. Since ##xy = c## this becomes ##y + ax = bc##.

Substituting ##y = bc~ – ~ax## into ##xy = c## gives a quadratic in ##x## and the rest should follow.

Replace ##a, b## and ##c## when convenient.

Edit: typo's fixed.
 
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With x = 1/(u + v), y = 2/(u-v) we have <br /> x + y = 8 \quad xy = 12 so that x and y are the roots of <br /> z^2 - 8z + 3 = (z - 4)^2 - 4 = 0 giving z = 4 \pm 2 and hence \begin{split}<br /> (u,v) &amp;= \left( \frac12\left(\frac1x + \frac2y\right), \frac12\left(\frac1x - \frac2y\right)\right) \\<br /> &amp;= \left( \frac 7{12}, -\frac{5}{12} \right) \quad\mbox{or}\quad \left( \frac{5}{12}, -\frac{1}{12}\right)\end{split}
 
pasmith said:
With x = 1/(u + v), y = 2/(u-v) we have <br /> x + y = 8 \quad xy = 12 so that x and y are the roots of <br /> z^2 - 8z + 3 = (z - 4)^2 - 4 = 0
I think there's a typo' and the last equation should be
##z^2 - 8z + 12 = (z - 4)^2 - 4 = 0##

pasmith said:
giving z = 4 \pm 2 and hence \begin{split}<br /> (u,v) &amp;= \left( \frac12\left(\frac1x + \frac2y\right), \frac12\left(\frac1x - \frac2y\right)\right) \\<br /> &amp;= \left( \frac 7{12}, -\frac{5}{12} \right) \quad\mbox{or}\quad \left( \frac{5}{12}, -\frac{1}{12}\right)\end{split}
Maybe I’ve made a mistake but it seems ##(u,v) = (\frac 5{12}, -\frac 1{12})## is not a solution...

##u+v = \frac 5{12} + \frac {-1}{12} = \frac 4{12} = \frac 13##

##u-v = \frac 5{12} - \frac {-1}{12} = \frac 6{12} = \frac 12##

##\frac 1{u+v}+ \frac 2{u-v} = \frac 1{\frac 13} + \frac 2{\frac 12} = 3+ 4 =7## (but it should be 8)

EDIT. I'm guessing it's just a sign-error so ##(u,v) = (\frac 5{12}, -\frac 1{12})## should be ##(u,v) = (\frac 5{12}, \frac 1{12})##.
 
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pasmith said:
With x = 1/(u + v), y = 2/(u-v) we have <br /> x + y = 8 \quad xy = 12 so that x and y are the roots of <br /> z^2 - 8z + 3 = (z - 4)^2 - 4 = 0 giving z = 4 \pm 2
Minor typo.

##\displaystyle z^2 - 8z + 3 = 0 \ ## should be ##\displaystyle z^2 - 8z + 12 = 0 \ ##

The rest follows from that without change.
 
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SammyS said:
Minor typo.

##\displaystyle z^2 - 8z + 3 = 0 \ ## should be ##\displaystyle z^2 - 8z + 12 = 0 \ ##

The rest follows from that without change.
Except that there is also the sign error in post #6 that @Steve4Physics noted in post #7.
 
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  • #10
chwala said:
In my approach i have:

##u-v=\dfrac{1}{6(u+v)}##

##\dfrac{1}{u+v} + 12(u+v)=8##

##1+12(u+v)^2=8(u+v)##

Let

##u+v=m##

then we shall have,

##12m^2-8m+1=0##

##m_1=\dfrac{1}{2}## and ##m_2=\dfrac{1}{6}##

Using ##m_2=\dfrac{1}{6}## and considering
##(u+v)(u-v)=\dfrac{1}{6}##
then,
##\dfrac{1}{6} (u-v)=\dfrac{1}{6}##

then we shall have the simultaneous equation,

##u-v=1##
##u+v=\dfrac{1}{6}## giving us
##u=\dfrac{7}{12} ⇒v=-\dfrac{5}{12}##

also using

##m_1=\dfrac{1}{2}##
then we shall have the simultaneous equation,
##u-v=\dfrac{1}{3}##
##u+v=\dfrac{1}{2}## giving us
##u=\dfrac{5}{12} ⇒v=\dfrac{1}{12}##
Good work.
 
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  • #11
Defining ##x=u+v##, ##y=u-v## the second equation is ##xy=\frac 16##, or ##6x=1/y##.

Substituting into the first gives ##\frac 1{x}+12x=8##, which rearranges to ##12x^2-8x+1=0##. Hence ##x=1/2## or ##x=1/6##, with the corresponding ##y=1/3## or ##y=1##.

Since ##u## and ##v## are obviously ##\frac 12(x\pm y)##, then we have ##(u,v)=\left(\frac{5}{12},\frac{1}{12}\right)## or ##\left(\frac{7}{12},\frac{-5}{12}\right)##.
 
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