Question

The difference of two numbers is 5 and the difference of their reciprocals is 1/10 Find the numbers.

Answer 1

Let the first number be ‘X’, so the other number will be ’(X+5)’.

On simplifying further,

X² + 5X – 50 = 0

On applying Sreedhracharya formula

∴ X = –10 or X = 5.

Then other numbers will be (X+5) = {–10+5} & {5+5} i.e., –5 or 10.

∴ The numbers are –10 & –5 or 5 & 10.