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If \(\frac{1}{x}=\frac{1}{p}+\frac{1}{q}\), then what is \(\frac{pq}{p^2-q^2}\left(\frac{x+p}{x-p}-\frac{x+q}{x-q}\right)\) equal to ?

This question was previously asked in
CDS 1 2026 Maths Question Paper (12-Apr-2026)
The correct answer is

2

To solve this problem, we need to manipulate the given equation to find the value of the expression:

Given:

\(\frac{1}{x} = \frac{1}{p} + \frac{1}{q}\)

First, find a common denominator on the right-hand side:

\(\frac{1}{x} = \frac{q + p}{pq}\)

This implies:

\(x = \frac{pq}{p + q}\)

Substitute \(x\) in the given expression:

\(\frac{pq}{p^2-q^2}\left(\frac{x+p}{x-p}-\frac{x+q}{x-q}\right)\)

This equals:

\(\frac{pq}{p^2-q^2}\left(\frac{\left(\frac{pq}{p+q}\right)+p}{\left(\frac{pq}{p+q}\right)-p}-\frac{\left(\frac{pq}{p+q}\right)+q}{\left(\frac{pq}{p+q}\right)-q}\right)\)

First handle the two fractions separately:

  • Let's simplify the first part: 
    \(\frac{\left(\frac{pq}{p+q}\right)+p}{\left(\frac{pq}{p+q}\right)-p} = \frac{\frac{pq + p(p + q)}{p+q}}{\frac{pq - p(p+q)}{p+q}}\)
  • Now simplify the second part: 
    \(\frac{\left(\frac{pq}{p+q}\right)+q}{\left(\frac{pq}{p+q}\right)-q} = \frac{\frac{pq + q(p + q)}{p+q}}{\frac{pq - q(p+q)}{p+q}}\)

Subtract these simplified terms:

\(-\frac{2pq + p^2}{p^2} + \frac{2pq + q^2}{q^2} = -1 +1\)

Finally, plug these back into the main expression:

\(\frac{pq}{p^2-q^2}\times 2 = 2\)

The correct answer is:

Option 2

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Important Questions from Algebra

  1. The difference between the two positive numbers x and y where x > y, is 25% of x. If the value of y is 15, then the value of x is:

  2. If p2 + q2 - r2 = 0, then the value of (p6 + q6 - r6) ÷ p2q2r2 is:

  3. If √2 + √x = √3, then the value of x is equal to:

  4. The sum of two numbers is 20 and their difference is 2.5. Ratio of these numbers will be:

  5. If \(\rm \frac{\sqrt{19 - x \sqrt{12}}}{1} = \sqrt 4 - \sqrt 3\)  then the value of x is equal to:

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