Albert1 Messages 1,221 Reaction score 0 Thread starter May 30, 2013 #1 $a^2=3a+5$ $b^2=3b+5$ $a\neq b$ $\dfrac {b^2}{2a}+\dfrac {a^2}{2b}=?$
anemone Gold Member MHB POTW Director Messages 3,851 Reaction score 115 May 30, 2013 #2 Re: find :(b^2/2a)+(a^2/2b) Since we're given two quadratic equations $$a^2=3a+5$$ and $$b^2=3b+5$$ and that $$a\ne b$$, we can tell by quadratic formula that $$a=\frac{3+ \sqrt{29}}{2}$$ and $$b=\frac{3- \sqrt{29}}{2}$$. Thus, $$a+b=3$$ and $$ab=-5$$. Therefore, $$\frac{b^2}{2a}+\frac{a^2}{2b}$$ $$=\frac{b^3}{2ab}+\frac{a^3}{2ab}$$ $$=\frac{a^3+b^3}{2ab}$$ $$=\frac{(a+b)(a^2+b^2-ab)}{2ab}$$ $$=\frac{(3)(3(3)+10-(-5))}{2(-5)}$$ $$=-7.2$$ P.S. The values for a and b are interchangeable.
Re: find :(b^2/2a)+(a^2/2b) Since we're given two quadratic equations $$a^2=3a+5$$ and $$b^2=3b+5$$ and that $$a\ne b$$, we can tell by quadratic formula that $$a=\frac{3+ \sqrt{29}}{2}$$ and $$b=\frac{3- \sqrt{29}}{2}$$. Thus, $$a+b=3$$ and $$ab=-5$$. Therefore, $$\frac{b^2}{2a}+\frac{a^2}{2b}$$ $$=\frac{b^3}{2ab}+\frac{a^3}{2ab}$$ $$=\frac{a^3+b^3}{2ab}$$ $$=\frac{(a+b)(a^2+b^2-ab)}{2ab}$$ $$=\frac{(3)(3(3)+10-(-5))}{2(-5)}$$ $$=-7.2$$ P.S. The values for a and b are interchangeable.