2014 AMC 10B Problems/Problem 9

Problem

For real numbers $w$ and $z$, \[\cfrac{\frac{1}{w} + \frac{1}{z}}{\frac{1}{w} - \frac{1}{z}} = 2014.\] What is $\frac{w+z}{w-z}$?

$\textbf{(A) }-2014\qquad\textbf{(B) }\frac{-1}{2014}\qquad\textbf{(C) }\frac{1}{2014}\qquad\textbf{(D) }1\qquad\textbf{(E) }2014$

Solution

Multiply the numerator and denominator of the LHS (left hand side) by $wz$ to get $\frac{z+w}{z-w}=2014$. Then since $z+w=w+z$ and $w-z=-(z-w)$, $\frac{w+z}{w-z}=-\frac{z+w}{z-w}=-2014$, or choice $\boxed{A}$.

Solution 2

Basic algebra at the end of the day, so simplify the numerator and the denominator. The numerator simplifies out to $\frac{w+z}{wz}$ and the denominator simplifies out to $\frac{z-w}{wz}$.

This results in $\cfrac{\frac{w+z}{zw}}{\frac{z-w}{zw}} = 2014$.

Division results in the elimination of $zw$, so we get $\frac{w+z}{z-w} = 2014$.

$z-w$ is just $-(w-z)$ so the equation above is $-(\frac{w+z}{w-z} = 2014$.

Solving this results in $\frac{w+z}{w-z} = \boxed{\textbf{(A)}\ -2014}$.

~AkCANdo

Solution 3

Muliply both sides by $\left(\frac{1}{w}-\frac{1}{z}\right)$ to get $\frac{1}{w}+\frac{1}{z}=2014\left(\frac{1}{w}-\frac{1}{z}\right)$. Then, add $2014\cdot\frac{1}{z}$ to both sides and subtract $\frac{1}{w}$ from both sides to get $2015\cdot\frac{1}{z}=2013\cdot\frac{1}{w}$. Then, we can plug in the most simple values for z and w ($2015$ and $2013$, respectively), and find $\frac{2013+2015}{2013-2015}=\frac{2(2014)}{-2}=-2014$, or answer choice $\boxed{A}$.

Solution 4

Let $a = \frac{1}{w}$ and $b = \frac{1}{z}$. To find values for a and b, we can try $a+b = 2014$ and $a-b=1$. However, that leaves us with a fractional solution, so scaling it by 2, we get $a+b = 4028$ and $a-b=2$. Solving by adding the equations together, we get $b = 2015$ and $a = 2013$. Now, substituting back in, we get $w = \frac{1}{2015}$ and $z = \frac{1}{2013}$. Now, putting this into the desired equation with $n = 2015 \cdot 2013$ (since it will cancel out), we get $\frac{\frac{2013+2015}{n}}{\frac{2013-2015}{n}}$. Dividing, we get $\frac{4028}{-2} = \boxed{\textbf{(A)}\ -2014}$.

~idk12345678

Solution 5

Set w=2 and z=1.

Substitute the new values into the first equation

$1/2 + 1 = 3/2$,

$1/2 - 1 = -1/2$,

$(3/2) / (-1/2) = -3$

Substitute in the second equation with new values of w and z:

(2 + 1) / (2 - 1) = 3.

Answers of each equation (where X is the quotient): $x$ and $-x$

Therefore, the answers to the equations are the negatives of each other. Thus the answer is (A)


~WalkEmDownTrey


Video Solution (CREATIVE THINKING)

https://youtu.be/Y37KozgBEXg

~Education, the Study of Everything


Video Solution

https://youtu.be/6Uh77bue0bE

~savannahsolver

See Also

2014 AMC 10B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 8
Followed by
Problem 10
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png