If x is positive, then why does 1 <msqrt> x +

Walker Guerrero

Walker Guerrero

Answered question

2022-05-21

If x is positive, then why does 1 x + 1 + x = x + 1 x ?
I've been trying to convert the left side of the equation to the right side:
1 x + 1 + x
But then how can I flip this round to be what I have on the right side?
I know that 1 x = x 1 2 , so I would think that this would give me
( x + 1 ) 1 / 2 + x 1 / 2
Which I thought would then convert to
x + 1 + ( x )
so I'm not sure how the first part x + 1 got to be positive

Answer & Explanation

odczepneyv

odczepneyv

Beginner2022-05-22Added 10 answers

Rationalize the denominator:
1 x + 1 + x x + 1 x x + 1 x = x + 1 x ( x + 1 + x ) ( x + 1 x ) FOIL =
Some notes:
If you want to show that two things are equal to each other, it's better to manipulate only one of them than it is to start by saying they're equal to each other and then manipulating both sides to verify, etc.
Your idea of converting to ( x + 1 ) 1 / 2 + x 1 / 2 won't work because, in general, 1 a + b 1 a + 1 b
Bailee Landry

Bailee Landry

Beginner2022-05-23Added 3 answers

Clear the denominator to get:
1 = ( x + 1 + x ) ( x + 1 x ) = ( x + 1 ) x .
As Tilper points out, this is not a correct proof per se, but once you see this, you can reverse the ordering of your logic and write a proper proof.
In this case it would be more proper to write:
1 = ( x + 1 ) x = ( x + 1 + x ) ( x + 1 x ) .
Therefore since x + 1 + x 0
1 x + 1 + x = x + 1 x .

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