If the quantity $P=frac{1}{a}+frac{1}{b} $ is conserved for different combinations of the two variables, is...












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If the quantity $P=frac{1}{a}+frac{1}{b} $ must always be the same for different combinations of the values of the two variables, then is it correct to state that the quantity $Q=a+b$ is also conserved?










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    $begingroup$


    If the quantity $P=frac{1}{a}+frac{1}{b} $ must always be the same for different combinations of the values of the two variables, then is it correct to state that the quantity $Q=a+b$ is also conserved?










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      $begingroup$


      If the quantity $P=frac{1}{a}+frac{1}{b} $ must always be the same for different combinations of the values of the two variables, then is it correct to state that the quantity $Q=a+b$ is also conserved?










      share|cite|improve this question











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      If the quantity $P=frac{1}{a}+frac{1}{b} $ must always be the same for different combinations of the values of the two variables, then is it correct to state that the quantity $Q=a+b$ is also conserved?







      linear-algebra algebra-precalculus






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      edited Dec 30 '18 at 3:44









      Martund

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      2,0401213










      asked Dec 30 '18 at 2:17









      Gonzalo FerrandoGonzalo Ferrando

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          No. For example, take the pairs $(a, b)=(1,1)$ and $(a,b)=(2,frac 2 3)$. Both pairs satisfy $P=frac{1}{a}+frac{1}{b}=2$, but for the first pair $Q=1+1=2$ while for the second pair, $Q=2+frac 2 3=frac 8 3$.






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            No, suppose that it is conserved. Then, $$ab=frac{Q}{P}$$
            is also conserved. But, in that case, $a$ and $b$ are also fixed, being the roots of $$x^2-(a+b)x+ab=0$$
            i.e. $$x^2-Qx+frac{Q}{P}=0$$



            Hope it is helpful






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              $begingroup$

              Let the quantity



              $$frac{1}{a}+frac{1}{b}=frac{a+b}{ab}=X$$



              Then



              $$a+b=abX$$



              If $a+b$ is to be conserved, then we must have



              $$a+b=abX:=-BRightarrow ab=frac{-B}{X}:=C$$



              And so $ab$ is also conserved.



              Thus $a$ and $b$ are roots of the quadratic equation



              $$x^2+Bx+C=0$$



              where $B$ and $C$ are fixed constants.
              Thus $a$ and $b$ are fixed numbers and not variable. We have a contradiction.






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                3 Answers
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                active

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                3 Answers
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                6












                $begingroup$

                No. For example, take the pairs $(a, b)=(1,1)$ and $(a,b)=(2,frac 2 3)$. Both pairs satisfy $P=frac{1}{a}+frac{1}{b}=2$, but for the first pair $Q=1+1=2$ while for the second pair, $Q=2+frac 2 3=frac 8 3$.






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                  $begingroup$

                  No. For example, take the pairs $(a, b)=(1,1)$ and $(a,b)=(2,frac 2 3)$. Both pairs satisfy $P=frac{1}{a}+frac{1}{b}=2$, but for the first pair $Q=1+1=2$ while for the second pair, $Q=2+frac 2 3=frac 8 3$.






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                    6












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                    $begingroup$

                    No. For example, take the pairs $(a, b)=(1,1)$ and $(a,b)=(2,frac 2 3)$. Both pairs satisfy $P=frac{1}{a}+frac{1}{b}=2$, but for the first pair $Q=1+1=2$ while for the second pair, $Q=2+frac 2 3=frac 8 3$.






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                    No. For example, take the pairs $(a, b)=(1,1)$ and $(a,b)=(2,frac 2 3)$. Both pairs satisfy $P=frac{1}{a}+frac{1}{b}=2$, but for the first pair $Q=1+1=2$ while for the second pair, $Q=2+frac 2 3=frac 8 3$.







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                    answered Dec 30 '18 at 2:20









                    Noble MushtakNoble Mushtak

                    15.4k1835




                    15.4k1835























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                        $begingroup$

                        No, suppose that it is conserved. Then, $$ab=frac{Q}{P}$$
                        is also conserved. But, in that case, $a$ and $b$ are also fixed, being the roots of $$x^2-(a+b)x+ab=0$$
                        i.e. $$x^2-Qx+frac{Q}{P}=0$$



                        Hope it is helpful






                        share|cite|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$


















                          2












                          $begingroup$

                          No, suppose that it is conserved. Then, $$ab=frac{Q}{P}$$
                          is also conserved. But, in that case, $a$ and $b$ are also fixed, being the roots of $$x^2-(a+b)x+ab=0$$
                          i.e. $$x^2-Qx+frac{Q}{P}=0$$



                          Hope it is helpful






                          share|cite|improve this answer









                          $endgroup$
















                            2












                            2








                            2





                            $begingroup$

                            No, suppose that it is conserved. Then, $$ab=frac{Q}{P}$$
                            is also conserved. But, in that case, $a$ and $b$ are also fixed, being the roots of $$x^2-(a+b)x+ab=0$$
                            i.e. $$x^2-Qx+frac{Q}{P}=0$$



                            Hope it is helpful






                            share|cite|improve this answer









                            $endgroup$



                            No, suppose that it is conserved. Then, $$ab=frac{Q}{P}$$
                            is also conserved. But, in that case, $a$ and $b$ are also fixed, being the roots of $$x^2-(a+b)x+ab=0$$
                            i.e. $$x^2-Qx+frac{Q}{P}=0$$



                            Hope it is helpful







                            share|cite|improve this answer












                            share|cite|improve this answer



                            share|cite|improve this answer










                            answered Dec 30 '18 at 3:39









                            MartundMartund

                            2,0401213




                            2,0401213























                                1












                                $begingroup$

                                Let the quantity



                                $$frac{1}{a}+frac{1}{b}=frac{a+b}{ab}=X$$



                                Then



                                $$a+b=abX$$



                                If $a+b$ is to be conserved, then we must have



                                $$a+b=abX:=-BRightarrow ab=frac{-B}{X}:=C$$



                                And so $ab$ is also conserved.



                                Thus $a$ and $b$ are roots of the quadratic equation



                                $$x^2+Bx+C=0$$



                                where $B$ and $C$ are fixed constants.
                                Thus $a$ and $b$ are fixed numbers and not variable. We have a contradiction.






                                share|cite|improve this answer









                                $endgroup$


















                                  1












                                  $begingroup$

                                  Let the quantity



                                  $$frac{1}{a}+frac{1}{b}=frac{a+b}{ab}=X$$



                                  Then



                                  $$a+b=abX$$



                                  If $a+b$ is to be conserved, then we must have



                                  $$a+b=abX:=-BRightarrow ab=frac{-B}{X}:=C$$



                                  And so $ab$ is also conserved.



                                  Thus $a$ and $b$ are roots of the quadratic equation



                                  $$x^2+Bx+C=0$$



                                  where $B$ and $C$ are fixed constants.
                                  Thus $a$ and $b$ are fixed numbers and not variable. We have a contradiction.






                                  share|cite|improve this answer









                                  $endgroup$
















                                    1












                                    1








                                    1





                                    $begingroup$

                                    Let the quantity



                                    $$frac{1}{a}+frac{1}{b}=frac{a+b}{ab}=X$$



                                    Then



                                    $$a+b=abX$$



                                    If $a+b$ is to be conserved, then we must have



                                    $$a+b=abX:=-BRightarrow ab=frac{-B}{X}:=C$$



                                    And so $ab$ is also conserved.



                                    Thus $a$ and $b$ are roots of the quadratic equation



                                    $$x^2+Bx+C=0$$



                                    where $B$ and $C$ are fixed constants.
                                    Thus $a$ and $b$ are fixed numbers and not variable. We have a contradiction.






                                    share|cite|improve this answer









                                    $endgroup$



                                    Let the quantity



                                    $$frac{1}{a}+frac{1}{b}=frac{a+b}{ab}=X$$



                                    Then



                                    $$a+b=abX$$



                                    If $a+b$ is to be conserved, then we must have



                                    $$a+b=abX:=-BRightarrow ab=frac{-B}{X}:=C$$



                                    And so $ab$ is also conserved.



                                    Thus $a$ and $b$ are roots of the quadratic equation



                                    $$x^2+Bx+C=0$$



                                    where $B$ and $C$ are fixed constants.
                                    Thus $a$ and $b$ are fixed numbers and not variable. We have a contradiction.







                                    share|cite|improve this answer












                                    share|cite|improve this answer



                                    share|cite|improve this answer










                                    answered Dec 30 '18 at 4:39









                                    Hugh EntwistleHugh Entwistle

                                    881217




                                    881217






























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