Solving the Equation: (4+x)(5-x)/(2+x)(7-x) = 1
This equation presents a challenge involving rational expressions. To solve it, we need to follow a systematic approach:
1. Simplify the Expression
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Cross-multiplication: Multiply both sides of the equation by the denominator of the right side (which is 1), and by the denominator of the left side: (4+x)(5-x) = (2+x)(7-x)
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Expand the products: 20 - x - x² = 14 - 5x + x²
2. Rearrange and Solve the Quadratic Equation
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Move all terms to one side: 2x² - 4x - 6 = 0
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Simplify by dividing by 2: x² - 2x - 3 = 0
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Factor the quadratic: (x - 3)(x + 1) = 0
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Solve for x: x - 3 = 0 or x + 1 = 0 x = 3 or x = -1
3. Verify the Solutions
It is crucial to verify if the obtained solutions are valid by plugging them back into the original equation.
For x = 3:
(4 + 3)(5 - 3) / (2 + 3)(7 - 3) = (7)(2) / (5)(4) = 14/20 = 7/10 ≠ 1
For x = -1:
(4 - 1)(5 + 1) / (2 - 1)(7 + 1) = (3)(6) / (1)(8) = 18/8 = 9/4 ≠ 1
Therefore, neither solution is valid. This indicates that the original equation has no solution.
Conclusion
The equation (4+x)(5-x)/(2+x)(7-x) = 1 has no solutions. This means there is no value of x that can make the equation true. This can happen when the simplification process leads to an inconsistent result after verifying the solutions.