Difference between revisions of "1963 AHSME Problems/Problem 3"

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== Problem ==
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If the reciprocal of <math>x+1</math> is <math>x-1</math>, then <math>x</math> equals:
 
If the reciprocal of <math>x+1</math> is <math>x-1</math>, then <math>x</math> equals:
  
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==Solution==
 
==Solution==
We form the equation <math>x+1=\frac{1}{x-1}</math>.  G
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We form the equation <math>x+1=\frac{1}{x-1}</math>.   
  
etting rid of the fraction yields: <math>x^2-1=1</math> <math>\implies</math> <math>x^2=2</math> <math>\implies</math> <math>x=\pm{\sqrt{2}}=\boxed{\text{E}}</math>
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Getting rid of the fraction yields: <math>x^2-1=1</math> <math>\implies</math> <math>x^2=2</math> <math>\implies</math> <math>x=\pm{\sqrt{2}}=\boxed{\text{E}}</math>
  
 
~mathsolver101
 
~mathsolver101
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==See Also==
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{{AHSME 40p box|year=1963|num-b=2|num-a=4}}
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[[Category:Introductory Algebra Problems]]
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{{MAA Notice}}

Latest revision as of 12:55, 16 July 2024

Problem

If the reciprocal of $x+1$ is $x-1$, then $x$ equals:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 0\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 1\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ -1\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \pm 1\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \text{none of these}$

Solution

We form the equation $x+1=\frac{1}{x-1}$.

Getting rid of the fraction yields: $x^2-1=1$ $\implies$ $x^2=2$ $\implies$ $x=\pm{\sqrt{2}}=\boxed{\text{E}}$

~mathsolver101

See Also

1963 AHSC (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 2
Followed by
Problem 4
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 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
All AHSME Problems and Solutions

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