If #(a+1)/(b-1)=5/1# and #(a-1)/(b+1)=1/1#, how do you find the value of b/a?

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Answer 1 · 2018-03-27T18:20:59

#b/a = 1/2#

We can see that

#a + 1 = 5(b - 1)#

#a + 1 = 5b -5#

#6 = 5b - a#

And

#a - 1 = b + 1#

#a - 2= b#

Substituting the second equation into the first we get

#6 = 5(a- 2) - a#

#6 = 5a - 10 - a#

#16 = 4a#

#a = 4#

It follows that #b = 4 - 2 = 2# .

Therefore #b/a = 2/4 = 1/2#

Hopefully this helps!