Bunuel
Is a + b = 0?
(1) The roots of the equation \(\frac{a}{(x − a)} + \frac{b}{(x − b)} = 1\), where a and b are constants and x is a variable, are equal in magnitude, but opposite in sign.
(2) The equation \(x(x − a) + x (x − b) = 0\), where a and b are constants and x is a variable, has equal roots.
Solution
Step 1: Analyse Question Stem
We don’t know anything about \(a\) and \(b\).
We need to find; is \(a+b = 0\)?
Step 2: Analyse Statements Independently (And eliminate options) – AD/BCE
Statement 1: • \(\frac{a}{(x-a)} + \frac{b}{(x-b)}=1\)
Let’s simplify this equation.
• \(a*(x-b) + b*(x-a)=(x-a)*(x-b)\)
• \(a*x -a*b+b*x-a*b= x^2 -b*x -a*x +a*b\)
• \(x^2 +2*(a+b)*x – 3*a*b=0\)
o Now, this is a quadratic equation, it means it will have only two roots.
• It is given that the roots of the given equation are equal and opposite.
o Sum of the roots = 0…(i)
• We also know that, sum of the roots of a quadratic equation =\(-\frac{(coefficient\ of\ x)}{(coefficient\ of\ x^2)} = -\frac{2(a+b)}{1} \)
o Equate this result to equation (i), we get
\(-2*(a+b)=0\)
\(a+ b = 0\)
Hence, statement 1 is sufficient, we can eliminate answer options B, C, and E.
Statement 2: Let's simplify this equation as well.
• \(x*(x-a+x-b)=0\)
• \(x*(2x-a-b)=0\)
Thus,\( x = \)0, and \(x=\frac{(a+b)}{2}\)
o It is given that above equation has equal roots,
• \(0=\frac{(a+b)}{2}\)
Hence, statement 2 is also sufficient, the correct answer is
Option D.