Question

The product of two positive numbers is $9.$ The reciprocal of one of these numbers is $4$ times the reciprocal of the other number. What is the sum of the two numbers?

$\dfrac{10}{3}$

$\dfrac{20}{3}$

$7$

$\dfrac{15}{2}$

$8$

Answer: D

Concepts:system of equations rational equation

Difficulty rating: 1070

Solution:

Let the two numbers be $x$ and $y$ such that $xy = 9 \text{ and } \dfrac{1}{x} = \dfrac{4}{y}.$

We get that $y = \dfrac{9}{x}$ $\dfrac{1}{x} = \dfrac{4x}{9}.$ $x = \dfrac{3}{2},$ since $x$ is positive.

Then $y = 9 \div \dfrac{3}{2} = 6.$

The desired sum is then $6 + \dfrac{3}{2} = \dfrac{15}{2}.$

Thus, D is the correct answer.

2012 AMC 10A Problem 6

Answer: D

Difficulty rating: 1070

Solution:

Problem 6 in Other Years