For any numbers a and b, a*b=a+b-ab If a*b=0, which of the

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For any numbers a and b, a*b=a+b-ab If a*b=0, which of the [#permalink]

04 Aug 2004, 14:27

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For any numbers a and b, a*b=a+b-ab
If a*b=0, which of the following CANNOT be a value of b?
a)2
b)1
c)0
d)-1
e)-3/2

Answer is B, why? I don't get it.
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04 Aug 2004, 17:15

B.
a = b/(b-1)
b cannot be 1, since that will take a to infinity.

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04 Aug 2004, 19:11

It is B.

a + b - ab = 0
b = a/(a-1)
a/(a-1)=1 --> 0 = -1 So b can be 1
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05 Aug 2004, 01:31

I am bit confused here:

ab = a+b -ab, where ab = 0
a = -b

Take the values one by one:
1. b = 2 => a = -2 ; ab = -4 != 0
2. b = 1 => a = -1 ; ab = -1 != 0
3. b = 0 => a = 0 ; ab = 0 OK
4. b =-1 => a = 1 ; ab = -1 != 0
5. b = -3/2 => a = 3/2 ; ab = -9/4 != 0

Does a*b mean ab?????
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05 Aug 2004, 06:37

al1234 wrote:

Does a*b mean ab?????

No, in a*b, * is a function/symbol
and a*b != ab

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05 Aug 2004, 08:21

don't over think it. Just plug them all in.

a*b=a+b-ab

If b is, for example, 2, and the answer is 0, then the equation would read,

a+2-2a=0
so solving for a, a=2

Try it with 1, and you get

a+1-a=0
So solving, you cancel out the a, and there's no such thing.

So that's the answer. All the others will produce an a that works with the function.

[#permalink] 05 Aug 2004, 08:21

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For any numbers a and b, ab=a+b-ab If ab=0, which of the

For any numbers a and b, ab=a+b-ab If ab=0, which of the

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