Defining the Number and Its Inverse

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 87 views

Introduction

In mathematics, an inverse of a number is a value that, when multiplied by the original number, gives a result of 1. For example, the inverse of 2 is 1/2, because 2 multiplied by 1/2 equals 1. In this article, we will explore a problem that involves finding a number based on the sum of the number and its inverse. The problem states that the sum of a number and its inverse is $3 \frac{29}{52}$ . Our goal is to find the number that satisfies this condition.

Understanding the Problem

To begin, let's break down the problem and understand what is being asked. We are given that the sum of a number and its inverse is $3 \frac{29}{52}$ . This means that if we add the number to its inverse, the result is $3 \frac{29}{52}$ . We need to find the number that, when added to its inverse, gives this result.

Defining the Number and Its Inverse

Let's denote the number as x. The inverse of x is 1/x. We are given that the sum of x and 1/x is $3 \frac{29}{52}$ . We can write this as an equation:

x + 1/x = $3 \frac{29}{52}$

Simplifying the Equation

To simplify the equation, we can convert the mixed number $3 \frac{29}{52}$ to an improper fraction. To do this, we multiply the whole number part (3) by the denominator (52), and then add the numerator (29). This gives us:

3 × 52 + 29 = 161 + 29 = 190

So, the mixed number $3 \frac{29}{52}$ is equal to the improper fraction $\frac{190}{52}$ .

Now, we can rewrite the equation as:

x + 1/x = $\frac{190}{52}$

Multiplying Both Sides by x

To eliminate the fraction, we can multiply both sides of the equation by x. This gives us:

x^2 + 1 = $\frac{190}{52}$ x

Multiplying Both Sides by 52

To get rid of the fraction, we can multiply both sides of the equation by 52. This gives us:

52x^2 + 52 = 190x

Rearranging the Equation

We can rearrange the equation to get a quadratic equation in the form ax^2 + bx + c = 0. To do this, we can subtract 190x from both sides of the equation, and then subtract 52 from both sides. This gives us:

52x^2 - 190x + 52 = 0

Solving the Quadratic Equation

To solve the quadratic equation, we can use the quadratic formula:

x = (-b ± √(b^2 - 4ac)) / 2a

In this case, a = 52, b = -190, and c = 52. Plugging these values into the formula, we get:

x = (190 ± √((-190)^2 - 4(52)(52))) / (2(52))

x = (190 ± √(36100 - 10816)) / 104

x = (190 ± √25284) / 104

x = (190 ± 159) / 104

Finding the Two Possible Solutions

We can now find the two possible solutions by plugging in the two values of x into the equation. We get:

x = (190 + 159) / 104 = 349 / 104

x = (190 - 159) / 104 = 31 / 104

Checking the Solutions

We can check the two possible solutions by plugging them back into the original equation. We get:

x + 1/x = 349/104 + 104/349 = 3 29/52

x + 1/x = 31/104 + 104/31 = 3 29/52

Conclusion

In this article, we explored a problem that involved finding a number based on the sum of the number and its inverse. We defined the number and its inverse, simplified the equation, and solved the quadratic equation to find the two possible solutions. We then checked the solutions to ensure that they satisfied the original equation. The two possible solutions are x = 349/104 and x = 31/104.

The Final Answer

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored a problem that involved finding a number based on the sum of the number and its inverse. We defined the number and its inverse, simplified the equation, and solved the quadratic equation to find the two possible solutions. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the problem.

Q: What is the inverse of a number?

A: The inverse of a number is a value that, when multiplied by the original number, gives a result of 1. For example, the inverse of 2 is 1/2, because 2 multiplied by 1/2 equals 1.

Q: How do I simplify a mixed number?

A: To simplify a mixed number, you can convert it to an improper fraction. To do this, you multiply the whole number part by the denominator, and then add the numerator. For example, the mixed number $3 \frac{29}{52}$ can be simplified to the improper fraction $\frac{190}{52}$ .

Q: How do I solve a quadratic equation?

A: To solve a quadratic equation, you can use the quadratic formula:

x = (-b ± √(b^2 - 4ac)) / 2a

In this case, a = 52, b = -190, and c = 52. Plugging these values into the formula, we get:

x = (190 ± √((-190)^2 - 4(52)(52))) / (2(52))

x = (190 ± √(36100 - 10816)) / 104

x = (190 ± √25284) / 104

x = (190 ± 159) / 104

Q: What are the two possible solutions to the problem?

A: The two possible solutions to the problem are x = 349/104 and x = 31/104.

Q: How do I check the solutions?

A: To check the solutions, you can plug them back into the original equation. We get:

x + 1/x = 349/104 + 104/349 = 3 29/52

x + 1/x = 31/104 + 104/31 = 3 29/52

Q: What is the final answer to the problem?

A: The final answer to the problem is x = 349/104.

Q: Can I use this method to solve other problems?

A: Yes, you can use this method to solve other problems that involve finding a number based on the sum of the number and its inverse. However, you may need to adjust the equation and the solution process to fit the specific problem.

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when solving this type of problem?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when solving this type of problem include:

Not simplifying the equation properly
Not using the correct values for a, b, and c in the quadratic formula
Not checking the solutions properly
Not considering the possibility of multiple solutions

Conclusion

In this article, we answered some of the most frequently asked questions about the problem of finding a number based on the sum of the number and its inverse. We provided step-by-step instructions for simplifying the equation, solving the quadratic equation, and checking the solutions. We also discussed some common mistakes to avoid when solving this type of problem.