College Algebra, Chapter 1, 1.3, Section 1.3, Problem 64

Solve $\displaystyle \frac{1}{r} + \frac{2}{1 - r} = \frac{4}{r^2}$ for $r$.


$
\begin{equation}
\begin{aligned}

\frac{1}{r} + \frac{2}{1 - r} =& \frac{4}{r^2}
&& \text{Given}
\\
\\
\frac{(1 - r) + 2(r)}{r - r^2} =& \frac{4}{r^2}
&& \text{Get the LCD of the left side}
\\
\\
\frac{1 + r}{r - r^2} =& \frac{4}{r^2}
&& \text{Simplify the numerator}
\\
\\
r^2 (1 + r) =& 4(r - r^2)
&& \text{Apply cross multiplication}
\\
\\
r^2 + r^3 =& 4r - 4r^2
&& \text{Apply Distributive Property}
\\
\\
r^3 + 5r^2 - 4r =& 0
&& \text{Combine like terms}
\\
\\
r(r^2 + 5r - 4) =& 0
&& \text{Factor out $r$, then eliminate}
\\
\\
r^2 + 5r =& 4
&& \text{Add 4}
\\
\\
r^2 + 5r + \frac{25}{4} =& 4 + \frac{25}{4}
&& \text{Complete the square: add } \left( \frac{5}{2} \right)^2 = \frac{25}{4}
\\
\\
\left( r + \frac{5}{2} \right)^2 =& \frac{41}{4}
&& \text{Perfect square}
\\
\\
r + \frac{5}{2} =& \pm \sqrt{\frac{41}{4}}
&& \text{Take the square root}
\\
\\
r =& \frac{-5}{2} \pm \sqrt{\frac{41}{4}}
&& \text{Subtract } \frac{5}{2}
\\
\\
r =& \frac{-5 + \sqrt{41}}{2} \text{ and } r = \frac{-5 - \sqrt{41}}{2}
&& \text{Solve for } r



\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
$

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

In what ways might RFID technology be used to serve customers better? What problems might arise? Do you think that the technology might be valuable when implanted in animals or people?

Calculus: Early Transcendentals, Chapter 9, 9.3, Section 9.3, Problem 18

Single Variable Calculus, Chapter 3, 3.1, Section 3.1, Problem 24