Solving equations

[boneill]

Hi Guys,
I have an equation which I need to solve for y

The equation is

1+(1/y)=e^-c (1+1/x)

The first thing I do is get rid of the 1 on the left hand side.


(1/y)= e^-c (1+1/x)-1

(1/y)= (e^-c/x)-1

I was wondering where to go from here?

Do I take the recipricol of both sides?

[jemidiah]

You've made a mistake between your second and third steps. Maybe that's what's confusing you, since after your third step you just need to take the reciprocal as you suggest. In all...

1+(1/y) = e^-c (1+1/x)
1/y = e^-c (1+1/x) - 1
y = 1/(e^-c (1+1/x) - 1)

You can substitute this back in to the original equation to check it:

1+(1/y)=1+e^-c (1+1/x) - 1
= e^-c (1+1/x), yay

[boneill]

Thanks for your reply. I think what I did was to multiply 1*1/x instead of adding 1+1/x.

Now on with the question thanks alot!