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 5 of 6.

Poornamsh said:   1 decade ago
It is the concept of factorization of 10th std.

Difference of +25x-16x = 9x.

So, we can write (25x- 16x) in place of 9x so that we can factorize resulting equation, i.e.
20x^2+25x-16x-20 = 0.

Now in 1st two terms -20x^2 & 25x pick the common one out which is 5x
=5x(4x + 5).

Similarly in last two terms,common is 4.

So, whole equation will be,

5x(4x+5) - 4(4x + 5 ) = 0.

Therefore (5x-4)(4x+5) = 0.

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.

Nitu said:   1 decade ago
I read all the answer and conversation but still I am not getting why they done 1/x - x = 9/20.

Please clear the confusion as above the first line of question. Ravi you tried good but as per the sentence x + 9/20 = 1/x.

Aparna said:   1 decade ago
Me too read all the answer but still I am not getting the answer please tell me what is positive proper fraction and how could you take the 25x-16x is there any logic.

Rima said:   1 decade ago
Can anyone tell me what is meaning of "positive proper fraction"?

Akash said:   1 decade ago
Positive proper fraction means: A number which is in p/q form where p is always less than q.

Let the positive proper fraction = x (It can be 1/3, 4/7, 6/9 anything).

And the reciprocal of this positive proper fraction = 1/x.

Now you are thinking why we do ((1/x)-x) = 9/20.

Why we can't do like (x)-(1/x) = 9/20?

Because x is a positive proper function. So its denominator is greater then numerator.

And when we take their reciprocal the numerator will become greater then numerator so 1/x is greater than x.

And that's why we take here ((1/x) -x) = 9/20.

And finally you will get the value of x, i.e. 4/5.

Nikita said:   9 years ago
Very nice explanation, thank you all.

Jigdrel said:   9 years ago
Why can't the fraction be represented as X/Y instead of just X? Can't the question be solved like my concept as;

Let positive fraction be X/Y.

Then the difference between the positive fraction and its reciprocal can be X/Y - Y/X = 9/20.

Please proceed the correct answer.

Thanks.

Md Kashif said:   9 years ago
It should be x - 1/x = 9/20. Thus, x would come out to be 5/4.

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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