Special case Part 1

Algebra Level 2

True or False

If ( b + c ) 2 = 1 (b+c)^2=1 and b c = 1 bc=1 , is it true that a b + a c = a b + c \dfrac{a}{b}+\dfrac{a}{c}=\dfrac{a}{b+c} ?

False True

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1 solution

Jordan Cahn
Feb 5, 2019

Note that this is only possible for complex b b and c c , as the given conditions imply that 1 = ( b + c ) 2 = b 2 + 2 b c + c 2 = b 2 + c 2 + 2 1=(b+c)^2 = b^2 +2bc+c^2 = b^2 + c^2 + 2 , so b 2 + c 2 = 1 b^2+c^2 = -1 .


Taking the left hand side of the equation we are to verify, a b + a c = a c + a b b c = a ( b + c ) 1 = a ( b + c ) \frac{a}{b} + \frac{a}{c} = \frac{ac + ab}{bc} = \frac{a(b+c)}{1} = a(b+c) But, since ( b + c ) 2 = 1 (b+c)^2 = 1 , we know that ( b + c ) = ± 1 (b+c)=\pm1 and, therefore, a ( b + c ) = a b + c a(b+c) = \frac{a}{b+c} . So the statement is True .

How do you get ( a + b ) 2 = 1 (a+b)^2=1 ?

Gia Hoàng Phạm - 2 years, 4 months ago

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Sorry, that was a typo. It should be ( b + c ) 2 = 1 (b+c)^2=1 . I'll edit it.

Jordan Cahn - 2 years, 4 months ago

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I'm still confused, if b + c = ± 1 b+c=\pm 1 then why a ( b + c ) ± a a(b+c) \ne \pm a ?

Gia Hoàng Phạm - 2 years, 4 months ago

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@Gia Hoàng Phạm It is true that a ( b + c ) = ± a a(b+c)=\pm a . But it is also true that a b + c = ± a \frac{a}{b+c}=\pm a . And the two expressions will always have the same sign. So a ( b + c ) = a b + c = ± a a(b+c)=\frac{a}{b+c}=\pm a

Jordan Cahn - 2 years, 4 months ago

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