c = b x 150 c = 200 + b

solve for c or b

Any takers?

b=1.34228

You are saying b X 150 = 200 + b?

The fact that it doesn’t come to a nice number suggests I’ve misunderstood.

That’s two separate equations right?

b=1.34228

I kind of got there by repeated tapping of keys on calculator and doing some binary chops but it doesn’t seem to round correctly.

Trial and error doesn’t really feel like ‘maths’ either 🙁

Question unclear. Do you mean:

(c = b * 150 * c = 200 + b)

OR

(c = 150b), (c = 200 + b) ?

Trial and error doesn’t really feel like ‘maths’ either

Iterative solutions are a perfectly valid way of solving maths problems. Assuming that they are two separate equations, then it’s just a simple set of simultaneous equations that you have to solve for both b & c.
oh and b = 200/149 or 1.342 if you want an approximate decimal answer.

1.34228 resolves it to 3 decimal places, can’t be asked to take it further got enough to do on the spreadsheet today as it is..

My second guess

b = 1/150
c = 200 1/150

If it is two equations then:

c = 150b
c = 200 + b

Is the same as saying:

150b = 200 + b

Subtract b from both sides:

150b - b = 200

Which is the same as:

149b = 200

So

b = 200/149 (or 1.3422818791946308724832214765101 as others said)

Put that value of b back into one of the original equations:

c = 150b
c = 150 * 200/149
c = 30000/149 (or 201.34228187919463087248322147651 in decimal)

You can confirm by inserting both values into the other original equation:

c = 200 + b

30000/149 = 200 + 200/149

30000/149 = 29800/149 + 200/149

All Good!

If they’re two separate equations, no iteration is needed.

c= 150b
c= 200+b

Therefore 150b = 200+b

150b – b = 200

149b = 200

b = 200/149 = 1.34228…….

c = 200+200/149 = 201.34228…..

edit: too late 🙁

as gonefishin says, the exact answer is b = 200/149

I gave the decimal for simplicity.

Not sure why people are doing iteration in here! Have you all forgotten your algebra?! what is the world coming to?!! 🙂

There are times I despair of that too Stoner. A lack of basic Maths doesn’t seem to have the same stigma as a lack of good English*

*Assuming English is your first language.

I’d still like clarification of the question, Graham S suggests two possible interpretations of what was asked.

A lack of basic Maths doesn’t seem to have the same stigma as a lack of good English*

I used a calculator (well google’s one) – that makes it maths, right?

Graham S suggests two possible interpretations of what was asked.

To be fair I’m pretty sure it is two equations. If it was:

(c = b * 150 * c = 200 + b)

Then you are saying that c = 150bc, so 150b would need to be 1, so b would just be 1/150

Not sure if we’ll get a definitive answer from the OP.
You are usually only allowed one or two bog breaks in an exam.

what ^ said. I assumed that it woul dbe obvious to the OP that if c was a multiple on both sides of the equation then they would have simplified it themselves.

therefore it made sense to assume that it was s simultaneous eq for solving.

It’s 2 separate equations.

This time with a wee change

c = b x 150

c = 200 – b

same method then, b = 200/151

c = b x 150
c = 200 – b

Same procedure as above really.

150b = 200 - b
151b = 200
b = 200/151

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/maths/algebra/simultaneoushirev1.shtml