Question

( simultaneous equations)

m/n + n/3 = 2
2/m + n = 4

Can someone show me how to solve this question step by step?

Answer 1

See method below.

Explanation:

m/n + n/3 = 2

2/m + n = 4

First eliminate the fractions by multiplying the first equation by 3n:-

3m + n^2 = 6n...........(1)

and the second equation by m:-

2 + mn = 4m..............(2)

Now we solve using substitution:-

From equation (2):-

4m - mn = 2

m = 2 / (4 - n)

Now substitute for m in equation (1):-

6/ (4 - n) + n^2 = 6n

6 + n^2(4 - n) = 6n(4 - n)

6 + 4n^2 - n^3 = 24n - 6n^2

n^3 - 10n^2 + 24n - 6 = 0

This will not factor so we could solve this using graphical software.

To find the values of the variable m we substitute the found values of n into one of the original equations and solve for m.