Math Is Fun Forum

Karimazer1

Guest

Why does this break to this?

Please help!

Answer in a book;

Breaks down...pY((a+b)/a) = pY/a

It went from pY(1+b/a) to pY((a+b)/a) which makes sense, but how does that then just equal pY/a? I can't even do the hard topics because my basic is so bad!

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,583

Re: Why does this break to this?

hi Karimazer1

Yes, that is a puzzle.

Are p, Y, a and b all just algebraic variables or perhaps something else?

eg.  p stands for 'probability' ?

Y is a function ?

Failing those possibilities it would work if we knew that a + b = 1 for some reason.

You could try posting the original problem so we can work it all through from start to finish.

Bob

Last edited by Bob (2011-12-21 20:26:39)

---

Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

Karimazer1

Guest

Re: Why does this break to this?

Bob, you are brilliant.

a+b=1!

Thank you yet again, you amaze me! I can't believe you saw that, I went back over the question and it did say that...I was wondering why it was there initially because it had no importance to the question, or so I thought...

:P

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,583

Re: Why does this break to this?

Wow! That's great!  I think I'll have a holiday on the strength of it. 

Happy Christmas!

Bob

---

Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

Karimazer1

Guest

Re: Why does this break to this?

Haha! Merry Christmas to you also!!!

All the best