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Quadratic Equations

Question
CBSEENMA10006786

A shopkeeper buys a number of books for Rs. 80. If he had bought 4 more books for the same amount, each book would have cost Rs. 1 less. How many books did he buy?

Solution

Let the number of books bought be x. Then,
Cost of x books = Rs. 80
rightwards double arrow         Cost of one book = Rs. open parentheses 80 over straight x close parentheses
If the number of books bought is x + 4, then
Cost of one book  = Rs. space open parentheses fraction numerator 80 over denominator straight x plus 4 end fraction close parentheses
According to given condition,
∴                  80 over straight x minus fraction numerator 80 over denominator straight x plus 4 end fraction equals 1
rightwards double arrow            space space 80 open parentheses 1 over straight x minus fraction numerator 1 over denominator straight x plus 4 end fraction close parentheses space equals space 1
rightwards double arrow space space space space space space space space space space 80 open curly brackets fraction numerator straight x plus 4 minus straight x over denominator straight x left parenthesis straight x plus 4 right parenthesis end fraction close curly brackets equals 1
rightwards double arrow                          fraction numerator 320 over denominator straight x squared plus 4 straight x end fraction equals 1
rightwards double arrow                       straight x squared plus 4 straight x equals 320
rightwards double arrow             straight x squared plus 4 straight x minus 320 space equals space 0
rightwards double arrow space space space straight x squared plus 20 straight x minus 16 straight x minus 320 space equals space 0
rightwards double arrow     straight x left parenthesis straight x plus 20 right parenthesis minus 16 left parenthesis straight x plus 20 right parenthesis space equals 0
rightwards double arrow space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space left parenthesis straight x plus 20 right parenthesis space left parenthesis straight x minus 16 right parenthesis space equals space 0
rightwards double arrow                                space straight x equals negative 20
or                                   straight x equals 16
rightwards double arrow                                  straight x equals 16
[∵ x cannot be negative]
Hence, the number of books is 16.