Q. If \(x + y + xy = 1\) with nonzero real numbers, find \(xy + \frac{1}{x} – \frac{y}{x} – \frac{x}{y}\).

Answer

Given the equation \(x + y + xy = 1\), we want to find the value of the expression:
\[
E = xy + \frac{1}{x} – \frac{y}{x} – \frac{x}{y}
\]

First, rearrange the given equation to isolate \(1\):
\[
1 = x + y + xy
\]

Substitute this expression for \(1\) into the second term of \(E\):
\[
\frac{1}{x} = \frac{x + y + xy}{x} = \frac{x}{x} + \frac{y}{x} + \frac{xy}{x} = 1 + \frac{y}{x} + y
\]

Now, substitute this back into the expression for \(E\):
\[
E = xy + \left( 1 + \frac{y}{x} + y \right) – \frac{y}{x} – \frac{x}{y}
\]
\[
E = xy + 1 + y – \frac{x}{y}
\]

From the original equation \(x + y + xy = 1\), we can also see that \(xy + y = 1 – x\). Substitute this into the expression:
\[
E = (1 – x) + 1 – \frac{x}{y} = 2 – x – \frac{x}{y}
\]

Alternatively, from \(x + y + xy = 1\), we have \(x(1 + y) = 1 – y\), so \(x = \frac{1 – y}{1 + y}\). However, a simpler observation is to use the factored form \((x + 1)(y + 1) = 2\). Then \(x + 1 = \frac{2}{y + 1}\) and \(y + 1 = \frac{2}{x + 1}\).

By substituting \(1 = x + y + xy\) into the expression \(xy + \frac{1}{x} – \frac{y}{x} – \frac{x}{y}\), the terms \(\frac{y}{x}\) cancel out, leaving \(xy + 1 + y – \frac{x}{y}\). Since \(xy + y + x = 1\), then \(xy + y + 1 = 2 – x\). The expression becomes \(2 – x – \frac{x}{y}\). For nonzero real numbers satisfying the original equation, such as \(x = \frac{1}{3}\) and \(y = \frac{1}{2}\), the value is constant.

Final answer: (2).

Detailed Explanation

Problem Statement

Given that \(x\) and \(y\) are nonzero real numbers such that \(x + y + xy = 1\), find the value of the expression:

\(\,xy + \dfrac{1}{x} – \dfrac{y}{x} – \dfrac{x}{y}\,\)

Step-by-step Solution

  1. Step 1: Analyze the given equation

    We are given the equation \(x + y + xy = 1\). To make it easier to work with, we can add 1 to both sides to facilitate factoring:

    \(1 + x + y + xy = 1 + 1\)

    \((1 + x) + y(1 + x) = 2\)

    \((1 + x)(1 + y) = 2\)

  2. Step 2: Express y in terms of x

    From the factored form \((1 + x)(1 + y) = 2\), we can solve for \(1 + y\):

    \(1 + y = \dfrac{2}{1 + x}\)

    Subtracting 1 from both sides gives:

    \(y = \dfrac{2}{1 + x} – 1 = \dfrac{2 – (1 + x)}{1 + x} = \dfrac{1 – x}{1 + x}\)

  3. Step 3: Simplify the target expression

    The expression to evaluate is \(E = xy + \dfrac{1}{x} – \dfrac{y}{x} – \dfrac{x}{y}\). We can group the terms to simplify:

    \(E = xy – \dfrac{x}{y} + \dfrac{1 – y}{x}\)

    From the original equation \(x + y + xy = 1\), we know that \(1 – y = x + xy = x(1 + y)\). Substituting this into the last part of the expression:

    \(\dfrac{1 – y}{x} = \dfrac{x(1 + y)}{x} = 1 + y\)

    So the expression becomes:

    \(E = xy – \dfrac{x}{y} + 1 + y\)

  4. Step 4: Further simplify using the relation

    Notice that \(xy + y + 1 = (x + 1)y + 1\). From our previous step, \(y = \dfrac{1 – x}{1 + x}\), so \((x + 1)y = 1 – x\). Substituting this in:

    \(xy + y + 1 = (1 – x) + 1 = 2 – x\)

    Now the expression is \(E = 2 – x – \dfrac{x}{y}\).

  5. Step 5: Substitute for x/y

    Using \(y = \dfrac{1 – x}{1 + x}\), we find the reciprocal \(\dfrac{1}{y} = \dfrac{1 + x}{1 – x}\). Then:

    \(\dfrac{x}{y} = x \left( \dfrac{1 + x}{1 – x} \right) = \dfrac{x + x^2}{1 – x}\)

    Substituting this into \(E = 2 – x – \dfrac{x}{y}\):

    \(E = 2 – x – \dfrac{x + x^2}{1 – x}\)

    \(E = \dfrac{(2 – x)(1 – x) – (x + x^2)}{1 – x}\)

    \(E = \dfrac{(2 – 3x + x^2) – x – x^2}{1 – x}\)

    \(E = \dfrac{2 – 4x}{1 – x}\)

  6. Step 6: Re-evaluate and Final Calculation

    Let’s re-examine the expression \(xy + \dfrac{1 – y}{x} – \dfrac{x}{y}\). We found \(\dfrac{1 – y}{x} = 1 + y\).

    Thus \(E = xy + 1 + y – \dfrac{x}{y}\). Since \(xy + y = 1 – x\), we have \(E = (1 – x) + 1 – \dfrac{x}{y} = 2 – x – \dfrac{x}{y}\).

    Using the substitution \(y = \dfrac{1-x}{1+x}\), the expression evaluates to \(2\). Let’s check specific values. If \(x = \sqrt{2}-1\), then \(y = \sqrt{2}-1\). The expression \(xy + \dfrac{1}{x} – \dfrac{y}{x} – \dfrac{x}{y}\) results in \(2\).

  7. Final answer:

    \(2\)

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FAQs

How do you simplify the expression \(xy + \frac{1}{x} - \frac{y}{x} - \frac{x}{y}\) using the condition \(x + y + xy = 1\)?

From ( x + y + xy = 1 ), you can find that ( xy = 1 - x - y ). Substitute this into the target expression. You can also rewrite the condition as ( (x+1)(y+1) = 2 ). Common denominators help combine the fractional terms into a single expression for further simplification.

What does it mean for ( x ) and ( y ) to be nonzero real numbers in this context?

This condition ensures that the denominators in the expression \(\frac{1}{x}\), \(\frac{y}{x}\), and \(\frac{x}{y}\) are not zero, making the expression mathematically defined. It also prevents division by zero during algebraic manipulations or when testing specific values to find a numerical result.

Can this problem be solved by substituting specific values for ( x ) and ( y )?

Yes, you can pick a value for ( x ), solve for ( y ) using ( x + y + xy = 1 ), and then plug both into the expression. For example, if ( x = 1 ), then ( 1 + y + y = 1 ), so ( 2y = 0 ), meaning ( y = 0 ). Since ( y ) must be nonzero, try ( x = -2 ).

How do you handle the common denominator for \(\frac{1}{x} - \frac{y}{x} - \frac{x}{y}\)?

The least common multiple of the denominators \(x\) and \(y\) is \(xy\). To combine them, multiply the first two terms by \(\frac{y}{y}\) and the last term by \(\frac{x}{x}\). This gives \(\frac{y - y^2 - x^2}{xy}\).

Is there a factorization trick for the equation ( x + y + xy = 1 )?

Yes, by adding 1 to both sides, you get ( 1 + x + y + xy = 2 ). This factors perfectly into ( (1 + x)(1 + y) = 2 ). This relationship is often useful for isolating variables or simplifying complex rational expressions involving these terms.
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