Question

Can you help with this equation? Have to solve for the indicated variable:

For x:
With equation y = x + 1/x - 1; in case it doesn't make sense; the x + 1 is in the numerator and the x - 1 is in the denominator.

Thank you for your help.
Cassandra

Answer 1

so you have:
y = (x+1)/(x-1) , ..... those brackets are absolutely essential

multiply both sides by x-1
y(x-1) = x+1
xy - y = x+1
re-arrange:
xy - x = y + 1
factor:
x(y-1) = y+1
x = (y+1)/(y-1) , again, those brackets are needed

test by picking any x, except x=1

let x = 5, then y = 6/4 = 1.5
now put that back into our new equation
x = (1.5+1)/(1.5-1)
= 2.5/.5 = 5 , as expected.