Difference between revisions of "1968 AHSME Problems/Problem 14"

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== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
<math>\fbox{}</math>
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We see after multiplying the first equation by <math>y</math>, that
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<math>xy=y+1.</math>
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Similarly, we see that after multiplying the second equation by <math>x</math>, we get that
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<math>xy=x+1.</math>
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Thus <math>x+1=y+1 \implies x=y</math>, giving us our final answer of <math>\fbox{E}.</math>
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~SirAppel
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
{{AHSME box|year=1968|num-b=13|num-a=15}}   
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{{AHSME 35p box|year=1968|num-b=13|num-a=15}}   
  
 
[[Category: Introductory Algebra Problems]]
 
[[Category: Introductory Algebra Problems]]
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Latest revision as of 01:52, 16 August 2023

Problem

If $x$ and $y$ are non-zero numbers such that $x=1+\frac{1}{y}$ and $y=1+\frac{1}{x}$, then $y$ equals

$\text{(A) } x-1\quad \text{(B) } 1-x\quad \text{(C) } 1+x\quad \text{(D) } -x\quad \text{(E) } x$

Solution

We see after multiplying the first equation by $y$, that

$xy=y+1.$

Similarly, we see that after multiplying the second equation by $x$, we get that

$xy=x+1.$

Thus $x+1=y+1 \implies x=y$, giving us our final answer of $\fbox{E}.$

~SirAppel

See also

1968 AHSC (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 13
Followed by
Problem 15
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
All AHSME Problems and Solutions

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