5th March 2008 , Wednesday

Working, working, working……

Do you ever take a break and look for alternatives? As example, look at the following add math question:

x + y =7

x² – 2xy + y² =1

Like old school teachings or old fashion solution, we will do as below:

x= 7 -y

Hence, we will get value ‘y’ as below:

(7-y)² -2(7-y)y+ y² =1

49 – 14y + y² -14y + 2y² + y² =1

4y² – 28y + 48 =0

4(y² -7y+12)=0

4(y-3)(y-4)=0

Hence,

y=3,4

x=3,4

Alternatively, we can do as below:

x² – 2xy + y² =1

Hence,

(x-y)(x-y)=1

(x-y) ² =1

x-y= +1 or -1

Then , x=1+y , or x=y-1

Since x + y =7

Hence,

1+y+y=7

2y=6

y=3

or

y-1+y=7

2y=8

y=4

Hence, we are getting the same correct result, with the faster method.

Yeah, I always seek for alternatives . Well, sometimes erm … most of the times, I cannot think much, so ‘ Boh Eng’ and poor time management habits.

Hehe ,See things from another angle

~Yet another posts, blah