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Slovenija 2008

Slovenia 2008 algebra

Problem

Let and be real numbers such that . Find all possible values of the expression .
Solution
First note that and cannot both be zero, so and cannot both be zero. Eliminating the fractions in we get , which we then rewrite as .

If , then must be non-zero and the value of is equal to .

If, on the other hand, we have , then (the denominator is non-zero).

The only possible values of the expression are and .
Final answer
0 and -3

Techniques

Simple EquationsFractions