The sum of a number and 8 times its reciprocal is -6 . Find the number.
A) 2 or 4
B) -2 or -4
C) -2
D) -5 or 1

Name: The sum of a number and 8 times its reciprocal is -6 . Find the number. A) 2 or 4 B) -2 or -4 C) -2 D) -5 or 1
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Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Let the number be x. The equation is $x + \frac{8}{x} = -6$. Multiplying through by x gives a quadratic equation $x^2 + 8 = -6x$, or $x^2 + 6x + 8 = 0$. Factoring or using the quadratic formula gives $x = -2$ or $x = -4$.

The Sum of a Number and 8 Times Its Reciprocal