All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only
Question

If [a + (1/a)] 2– 2[a – (1/a)] = 12, then which of the following is a value of 'a'?

This question was previously asked in
SSC CGL 2017 (Tier 1) Previous Year Paper (16-Aug-2017) (Shift 1)
The correct answer is

None of these

Substitute \(y=a-\tfrac{1}{a}\), so \(\left(a+\tfrac{1}{a}\right)^2 = y^2+4\). The equation becomes \(y^2+4-2y=12\), i.e. \(y^2-2y-8=0\), giving \(y=4\) or \(y=-2\).

Solve \(a-\tfrac{1}{a}=4 \Rightarrow a^2-4a-1=0 \Rightarrow a=2\pm\sqrt{5}\); and \(a-\tfrac{1}{a}=-2 \Rightarrow a=-1\pm\sqrt{2}\).

None of \(-8\pm\sqrt{3}\) or \(-8+\sqrt{5}\) match. Hence None of these.

Was this answer helpful?

Similar Questions

  1. If 2x 2+ 5x + 1 = 0, then one of the values of \(x - \frac{1}{{2x}}\)  is:

  2. Which of the following statement is correct?

    I. If x = 12, y = -2 and z = -10, then x3 + y3 + z3 = 360.

    II. If x + y = 48 and 4xy = 128, then 4x2 + 4y2 = 4480.

  3. If \(4x^4-37x^2+9=0, x>\sqrt{\frac{3}{2}}\) , then what is the value of \(8x^3-\frac{27}{x^3}\)

  4. If x 2 – 3x + 1 = 0, then the value of  \(\frac{(x^4+\frac{1}{x^2})}{(x^2+5x+1)}\)  is:

  5. If x(2x + 3) = 90 and 7y -1/2 + 2y -1/2 = y 1/2 (x and y are positive numbers), then what is the value of x 2+ y 2?

  6. If α and β are the roots of equation x 2– x + 1 = 0, then which equation will have roots α 3and β 3?

  7. A root of equation ax 2+ bx + c = 0 (where a, b and c are rational numbers) is 5 + 3√3. What is the value of (a 2+ b 2+ c 2)/(a + b + c)?

  8. If (x – 2) and (x + 3) are the factors of the equation x 2+ k 1x + k 2= 0, then what are the values of k 1 and k 2?

  9. Sum of twice a fraction and its reciprocal is 17/6. What is the fraction?

  10. Sum of a fraction and thrice of its reciprocal is 73/20. What is the fraction?


Important Questions from Quadratic Equation

  1. For what values of k, the roots of 9x 2 + 8kx + 16 = 0 are real and equal?

  2. If \(\rm \left( \frac{x}{x+1} \right)^2 -5 \left( \frac{x}{x+1} \right) +6=0 \) , then the value of  \(\rm \left( 1+\frac{1}{x} \right) \)  is equal to :
  3. The nature of the roots of the equation 4x 2 - 2x - 3 = 0.

  4. If the roots of the equation (q – r)x 2+ (r – p)x + (p – q) = 0 are equal, then which of the following is true?

  5. Number of real roots of the quadratic equation 3x 2+ 4x + 25 = 0 is

Need Expert Advice?
Upcoming Exams
SSC CGL
September 30, 2026
UPSSSC PET
October 23, 2026
Test Series
SSC CGL img
SSC
SSC CGL (Tier I + Tier II) 2026 Mock Test Series - Latest Pattern
2503 Tests 6 Tests Free
5384 Attempts
4.2(868)
English, Hindi

Start Your Preparation with Prepp Mobile App

Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Prepp Mobile App