How do you solve 1/x + 1/2x = 1/6 1x+12x=16?

2 Answers
Jun 21, 2015

This equation has no real solutions

Explanation:

1/x+1/2x=1/61x+12x=16

First we multiply both sides by 6x6x to get rid of the fractions and the unknown in the denominator:

6+3x^2=x6+3x2=x
3x^2-x+6=03x2x+6=0

Now we look for the solutions of a quadratic equation:

Delta=(-1)^2-4*3*6=1-72=-71
Delta<0 so this equation has no real solutions.

So the base equation also has no real solutions.

Jun 21, 2015

Is there a formatting problem in the question?

Should it have been:

How do you solve 1/x+1/(2x)=1/6 ?

If so, x = 9 is the solution.

Explanation:

Assuming the problem is:

How do you solve 1/x+1/(2x)=1/6 ?

Multiply both sides by 6x to get:

6+3 = x

So x=9