Question :

The difference of two natural numbers is 5 and the difference of their reciprocals is 5 /14 . Find the numbers.
Submitted on 8/3/2024 | Answered by Vandana Rana

Answer :


Let the two natural numbers be x and y
y>x

According to question
y

x
=
5
.....(1)

1/
x

1/
y
=
5
14
....(2)


From( 1.)


y
=
x
+
5


Putting the value of y in eqn. (2)

1/
x

1/(
x
+
5)
=
5/
14
=>
(x
+
5

x)
/
(
x2
+
5x
)
=
5/
14

=>
5/(x2+5x)=5/14



=>
x2

+
5
x

14
=
0

=>
x2

+

7x

2x


14
=
0

=>



=>
x
(
x
+
7
)

2
(
x
+
7
)
=
0

=>
(
x
+
7
)
(
x

2
)
=
0


Either
x
+
7
=
0


=>
x
=

7

Not acceptable because -7 is not natural number
Or,
x

2
=
0

=>
x
=
2

So, the first number is 2


Other number
=
x
+
5
=
2
+
5
=
7



so the numbers are 7 and 2