Aptitude - Numbers - Discussion

Discussion Forum : Numbers - General Questions (Q.No. 26)
26.
The difference between a positive proper fraction and its reciprocal is 9/20. The fraction is:
3
5
3
10
4
5
4
3
Answer: Option
Explanation:

Let the required fraction be x. Then 1 - x = 9
x 20

    1 - x2 = 9
x 20

     20 - 20x2 = 9x

     20x2 + 9x - 20 = 0

     20x2 + 25x - 16x - 20 = 0

     5x(4x + 5) - 4(4x + 5) = 0

     (4x + 5)(5x - 4) = 0

x = 4
5

Discussion:
53 comments Page 3 of 6.

Shiva said:   8 years ago
Positive proper function is in form of 1/x and its reciprocal is x that why we are considering 1/x - x = 9/20.

Pooja said:   8 years ago
@ Rima.

The numerator is less than the denominator.

Examples: 1/3, 3/4, 2/7. Improper Fractions: The numerator is greater than (or equal to) the denominator.

Vijay said:   8 years ago
They told in question the difference between +ve proper fraction and its reciprocal is 9/20. Means -> Positive proper fraction=1/x and its reciprocal is 1/1/x=x. Their difference is (1/x) -x=9/20. So we have to find x. Find x by the above method.

Samyuktha said:   8 years ago
If the ans is 4/5.

4/5 - 5/4 should be 9/20 which is not right.. 4/5 - 5/4 is - 9/20.

The answer should be 5/4.

Saurin said:   8 years ago
Thank you all.

Imtiyaj said:   8 years ago
It's simple ----just inverse every fraction and calculate lcm of denominator of two fractions.
a) 3/5 - 5/3=denomator 20
b) 3/10- 10/3=30
c) 4/5 - 5/4=20
d) 3/4-4/3=12

At question different is 9/20 so, answer should be option B) 4/5.

Akshat said:   8 years ago
The conventional approach will be the lengthy one for this question.
So by checking all the options we get the option (d),
i.e 5/4-4/5 = 9/20.

Pawas said:   9 years ago
Assume the fraction x/y.
Reciprocal becomes y/x.

According to condition,
x/y - y/x= 9/20,
on solving LHS we get.

(x^2- y^2)/(xy)= 9/20, Here x^2 means x square.

Hence we get (x+y)(x-y) / (xy) = 9/20.

Now we have to write 9 as a product of two numbers they can be
9 = 3x3 and 9 = 9x1.

Since 3x3 is not possible as sum and difference of 2 numbers.
Hence we have that,
(x+y)=4 and (x-y )=1.

Solution is x=4 and y=5.

Prithviraj chauhan said:   9 years ago
You can take it as, a/b - b/a = 9/20.

a2 - b2 /ab =9/20 then equate ab = 20 options are 1 * 20, 2 * 10, 4 * 5 and here we get our answer guys.

Kavitha said:   9 years ago
In the question, it was mentioned that difference between fraction and its reciprocal is 9/20.
So let the fraction be 1/x
Then its reciprocal is 1/(1/x) = x
Therefore, 1/x - x = 9/20.


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