One ordered pair (a,b) satisfies the two equations ab^4 = 48 and ab^2 = 4. What is the value of b in this ordered pair? (Note: you may have to use the Tab key to get your cursor into the middle answer box.)
We can use subsitution to our advantage.
Now, first, let's put a terms of b. From the second equation, we get that
a=4b2
Subsituting this value of x into the first equation, we get
4b2⋅b4=48
Now, the top and the bottom cancel out, so we have
4b2=48b2=12b=2√3,b=−2√3
Thus, we find two values of b. We have
b=2√3,b=−2√3
Thanks! :)