Question

If a ≠ b and 1/x + 1/a = 1/b, then x =

Answer 1

then flip both sides to get \(x\)

Answer 2

you good from there or no?

Answer 3

So when you subtract a from b, it just turns it into /ab.?
you just put the 2 beside each other.?

Answer 4

well it is a good thing you are confused, because i see that i made a mistake
let me start again
\[\frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{a}=\frac{1}{b}\] lets do it correctly this time
you want to get \(x\) by itself, so the first thing to do is subract \(\frac{1}{a}\) from both sides and write
\[\frac{1}{x}=\frac{1}{b}-\frac{1}{a}\]

Answer 5

then you have to actually do the subtraction on the right, i.e write
\[\frac{1}{b}-\frac{1}{a}\] as a single fraction

Answer 6

when you subtract you get
\[\frac{1}{x}=\frac{a-b}{ab}\] then flip both sides to get
\[x=\frac{ab}{a-b}\]

Answer 7

"Good thing you are confused" haha,

but why would I need to flip it.?

Answer 8

because the left hand side was \(\frac{1}{x}\) and you wanted to solve for \(x\)

Answer 9

so how to you get from \(\frac{1}{x}\) to \(x\) ? by flipping it
the fancy term is "take the reciprocal of both sides"

Answer 10

Ahhh.! reciprocal.
thanks.!

Answer 11

yw