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805+ (Hard)|   Algebra|         
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Bunuel
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Ok, this is tricky and time-consuming.

We have to find the pattern. There should be a pattern else this question won't make sense.

So, follow the below steps ->
1. All are fractions with 1 as numerator -> let's use compenando/dividendo ->
if \(1/(a-b)\) -> \(1/(a-b) X (a+b/a+b) = (a+b)/(a^2-b^2)\)
2. Do that just for the first term to see if something emerges -> \(5\sqrt{4} - 4\sqrt{5} / (4X5)\)
3. Let's separate the expression into individual fractions ->\( 1/\sqrt{4} - 1/\sqrt{5}\)
4. Aha...the same will happen for each term. Neat.
5. so, all the numbers will get subtracted, except -> \(1/\sqrt{4}\) and \(1/\sqrt{n} \)(which would have got subtracted for n+1)
6. So, the expression boils down to \(1/\sqrt{4} -1/\sqrt{n} = 7/10\)
7. Solve this and you will get n = 25.

Ans. E, n = 25.
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General term = \(\frac{1}{[n\sqrt{(n-1)} + (n-1)\sqrt{n}]}\)

After rationalization the nth term will be = \(\frac{1}{\sqrt{n-1}} -\frac{ 1}{\sqrt{n}}\)

The series starts at n = 5

sum = \(\frac{1}{\sqrt{4}} - \frac{1}{\sqrt{5}} + \frac{1}{\sqrt{5}} - \frac{1}{\sqrt{6}}...................+\frac{1}{\sqrt{n-1}} - \frac{1}{\sqrt{n}}\) = \(\frac{7}{10}\)

=> \(\frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{\sqrt{n}} = \frac{7}{10}\)

=> n = 25

OA should be E
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If \(\frac{1}{5\sqrt{4} + 4\sqrt{5}} + \frac{1}{6\sqrt{5} + 5\sqrt{6}} +\frac{1}{7\sqrt{6} + 6\sqrt{7}} +...+\frac{1}{n\sqrt{n-1} + (n-1)\sqrt{n}}=\frac{7}{10} \),

\(\frac{1}{5\sqrt{4} = {4*sqrt(5) - 5*sqrt(4)}/{5^2 *4 - 4^2*5} = [m]1/\sqrt{5}\) - \(1/\sqrt{4}\)

So, final equation remains, \(1/\sqrt{n}\) - \(1/\sqrt{4}\) = 7/10
or, 1/sqrt(n) = 7/10 -1/2 = 1/5 or, n = 25

So, I think E. :)
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Bunuel
If \(\frac{1}{5\sqrt{4} + 4\sqrt{5}} + \frac{1}{6\sqrt{5} + 5\sqrt{6}} +\frac{1}{7\sqrt{6} + 6\sqrt{7}} +...+\frac{1}{n\sqrt{n-1} + (n-1)\sqrt{n}}=\frac{3}{10} \), then what is the value of n?

A. 9
B. 10
C. 15
D. 20
E. 25

This is a pattern-type question, So we need to break the pattern by analyzing one of the terms,it will help to solve the question easily.

So lets pick T1,(First term of the pattern)
\(\frac{1}{5\sqrt{4} + 4\sqrt{5}}\) This term can be rationaized.

\(\frac{1}{\sqrt{a} + \sqrt{b}}\) = \(\frac{\sqrt{a} - \sqrt{b}}{a-b}\);

Similarly, \(\frac{1}{5\sqrt{4} + 4\sqrt{5}}\) can be multipled and divided by \(5\sqrt{4} - 4\sqrt{5}\);

T1 => \(\frac{5\sqrt{4} - 4\sqrt{5}}{5^2*4 - 4^2*5}\)

=> \(\frac{5\sqrt{4} - 4\sqrt{5}}{5*4}\)

=> \(\frac{1}{\sqrt{4}} - \frac{1}{\sqrt{5}}\)

Similarly T2 = \(\frac{1}{\sqrt{5}} - \frac{1}{\sqrt{6}}\)
.
.
.
Tn = \(\frac{1}{\sqrt{n-1}} - \frac{1}{\sqrt{n}}\)

We need T1+T2+.......Tn; So all the alternate terms get canceled.

Sum = \(\frac{1}{\sqrt{4}}- \frac{1}{\sqrt{n}}\) = 3/10;

1/\sqrt{n} = 1/5;

Hence n=25;

IMO E

Note : Even the previous version, where sum is 7/10, gives the same ans.
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Rationalising and simplifying each term
1/(5√4 + 4√5) = 1/√4 - 1/√5
1/(6√5 + 5√6) = 1/√5 - 1/√6
1/(7√6 + 6√7) = 1/√6 - 1/√7
...
...
1/(n√(n-1) + (n-1)√n) = 1/√(n-1) - 1/√n

Adding all the terms
1/√4 - 1/√n = 3/10
1/2 - 3/10 = 1/√n
1/5 = 1/√n
n = 25

E is correct
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