Let a and b with a > b > 0 be real numbers satisfying a 2 + b 2 = 4 a b . Find b a − a b .
Give your answer to 3 decimal places.
This question is part of the set All-Zebra
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A simple solution !!! I did it the same way.
As a > b > 0 then 4 a b = 0 . Thus we can divide throughout by 4 a b and get 4 a b a 2 + b 2 = 1 . This gives a b a 2 + b 2 = 4 and b a + a b = 4
b a − 2 + a b = 2
( b a − a b ) 2 = 2
b a − a b = ± 2
But as a > b , b a > a b and thus b a − a b = 2 ≈ 1 . 4 1 4
Great observation!
⇒ a 2 + b 2 = 4 a b
( a − b ) 2 + 2 a b = 4 a b
( a − b ) 2 = 2 a b
Wee need to find:
b a − a b = a b a − b = x
Squring both sides.
a b ( a − b ) 2 = x 2
a b 2 a b = x 2
∴ x = 2 ≈ 1 . 4 1 4
Let
a
b
=
x
1
+
x
2
=
4
x
∴
x
=
2
±
3
But, since
a
≥
b
,
x
<
1
→
x
=
2
−
3
b
a
−
a
b
=
2
+
3
−
2
−
3
=
2
1
⋅
(
(
3
+
1
)
2
−
(
3
−
1
)
2
)
=
2
Good observation of the simplification for the square roots.
Given that,
a 2 + b 2 = 4 a b
⟹ a 2 − 2 a b + b 2 = 2 a b
⟹ ( a − b ) 2 = 2 a b
⟹ ( a − b ) = 2 a b
Now, b a − a b = a b a − b = a b 2 a b = a b 2 × a b = 2 ≈ 1 . 4 1 4
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( a − b ) 2 = a 2 + b 2 − 2 a b
( a − b ) 2 = 4 a b − 2 a b
( a − b ) 2 = 2 a b
( a − b ) = 2 a b
b a − a b = 2 = 1 . 4 1 4