130,026 views
4 votes
4 votes
12. A, B and C are consecutive natural numbers. If 2/7 of the reciprocal of A is equal to ⅓ of the reciprocal of C, find B.​

User Axiixc
by
2.0k points

1 Answer

7 votes
7 votes

Answer: 13

===================================================

Step-by-step explanation:

The set of natural numbers is {1,2,3,4,...} aka the set of positive whole numbers.

Consecutive natural numbers follow one right after another, like with that example above or something like 7,8,9,...

Since B follows right after A, this means B = A+1. Similarly, C = B+1 = (A+1)+1 = A+2 because C follows right after B.

So we have

  • A = some unknown natural number
  • B = A+1
  • C = A+2

In other words, we have the sequence A,A+1,A+2 to replace the sequence A,B,C in that order.

-----------------------

The reciprocal of A is 1/A. Taking 2/7 of this gets us 2/(7A). This result is equal to 1/3 of the reciprocal of C, so,

2/(7A) = 1/3 of 1/C

2/(7A) = 1/(3C)

2/(7A) = 1/(3(A+2))

2/(7A) = 1/(3A+6)

------------------------

Let's cross multiply and solve for A

2/(7A) = 1/(3A+6)

2(3A+6) = 7A*1

6A+12 = 7A

12 = 7A-6A

12 = A

A = 12

Therefore, B = A+1 = 12+1 = 13 and C = A+2 = 12+2 = 14

The sequence A,B,C updates to 12,13,14.

------------------------

Check:

A = 12

reciprocal of A = 1/A = 1/12

D = 2/7 of reciprocal of A = (2/7)*(1/12) = 2/84 = 1/42

C = 14

reciprocal of C = 1/C = 1/14

E = 1/3 of the reciprocal of C = (1/3)*(1/14) = 1/42

Items D and E are equal, so it confirms we have the correct answer.

User Dragouf
by
2.2k points