Question
If x + 5 y = 4 and y + 5 x = -4, then what is (x + y) equal to?
If x + 5 y = 4 and y + 5 x = -4, then what is (x + y) equal to?
A. 0
Given equations are x + 5 y = 4 and y + 5 x = -4. Adding the two equations, we get: x + y + 5 x + 5 y = 0 (x + y) + 5 ( x + y xy ) = 0 (x + y) (1 + 5 xy ) = 0 This implies either x + y = 0 or 1 + 5 xy = 0. Subtracting the second equation from the first, we get: x - y - 5 x + 5 y = 8 (x - y) + 5 ( x - y xy ) = 8 (x - y) (1 + 5 xy ) = 8 If 1 + 5 xy = 0, the second factor becomes zero, which gives 0 = 8, a contradiction. Thus, 1 + 5 xy 0. Therefore, we must have x + y = 0. Answer: 0
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