Two consecutive even whole numbers are selected. the difference between the reciprocals of the two numbers is 1/40. determine the two numbers

2 numbers could be 10 and 12 

or - 12 and - 10 

Step-by-step explanation:

let the 2 numbers be x and x + 2

since they are 2 consecutive even numbers, the difference between them is 2

the difference between the reciprocals is 1/60 

we have to mulitply the 2 denominators x and (x+2) to get a common denominator for the 2 fractions 

= 

we can then remove the brackets from the numerator and denominator 

and then cross multiply

60 * 2 = x² + 2x

120 = x² + 2x

x² + 2x - 120 = 0

we have a quadratic equation which needs to be solved 

x² + 12x - 10x - 120 = 0

x (x + 12) - 10(x + 12) = 0

(x - 10) (x + 12) = 0

x - 10 = 0     or   x + 12 = 0

x = 10                x = -12

what "following statement"?

step-by-step explanation: