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tmua.me Medium Set A Paper 2 · Q10

Paper 2Logic & proofAlgebra

Let aa and bb be distinct positive real numbers satisfying

a+1a=b+1b.a+\frac1a=b+\frac1b.

A student gives the following proof that a+b>2a+b>2.

  1. Multiplying the given equation by abab gives a2b+b=ab2+aa^2b+b=ab^2+a.
  2. Rearranging and factorising gives (a−b)(ab−1)=0(a-b)(ab-1)=0.
  3. Since a≠ba\ne b, it follows that ab=1ab=1.
  4. Therefore (a+b)2=(a−b)2+4ab>4(a+b)^2=(a-b)^2+4ab>4.
  5. Since a+b>0a+b>0, this gives a+b>2a+b>2.

Which of the following is correct?

AThe first error is in line I\mathrm{I}
BThe first error is in line II\mathrm{II}
CThe first error is in line III\mathrm{III}
DThe first error is in line IV\mathrm{IV}
EThe first error is in line V\mathrm{V}
FAll five lines I\mathrm{I}–V\mathrm{V} are valid

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