i need someone to explain this problem?

Question

Solve: (a + 2)/4 = 1/a

so u would then have 2 answers?

Answer 1

(a+2)/4 = 1/a
Multiply both sides by 4a to get rid of the fractions

(a)(a+2) = (4) (1)
a^2 + 2a = 4
a^2 + 2a - 4 = 0

You need to use the quadratic equation to solve this further. You can see by substitution of the values that (2, -2) is not correct.

Answer 2

(a+2)=(1/a)*4

(a+2)/(1/a)=4

and since dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by the reciprocal, you get this:

(a)*(a+2)=4

then you distribute and set equal to zero:

a^2 +2a -4=0

because you can't factor this equation, you use the quadratic equation:

x= [-b +/- (b^2 -4ac)^(1/2)] 2a

where a=1, b=2, c=-4

you then get 1.236 and -3.236

hope that helps?

yes, there would be two answers.

Answer 3

you're trying to find the values of a by using the format ax^2+bx+c

a+2=1
4 a
multiply both sides by 4
a+2=4
a
multiply both sides by a
a^2+2a=4
a^2+2a-4
then use foil

Answer 4

(a + 2) / 4 = 1/a
Multiply each side by 4a:
a(a+2) = 4
Subtract 4 from each side:
a^2 + 2a - 4 = 0
Use quadratic formula:
a = ( -2 +- sqrt(4+16)) / 2
= ( -2 +- sqrt(20) ) / 2
= ( -2 +- sqrt(4)sqrt(5) ) / 2
= ( -2 +- 2sqrt(5) ) /. 2
= -1 +- sqrt(5)
Hope that is enough steps.

Answer 5

u take a+2=2a/4=1a divide on both sides now your answer is a = -2

Answer 6

its not -2, thats for sure
because then if you plug that in where it says (a+2) it becomes zero, making the whole fraction zero, cause 0 divided by a number = 0. so it wouldnt equal -.5