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Algebra Difficulty 2.8 Junior Find the answer

If xyzy=10\frac{x-y}{z-y}=-10, what is the value of xzyz\frac{x-z}{y-z}?

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

Since the problem asks us to find the value of xzyz\frac{x-z}{y-z}, then this value must be the same no matter what x,yx, y and zz we choose that satisfy xyzy=10\frac{x-y}{z-y}=-10. Thus, if we can find numbers x,yx, y and zz that give xyzy=10\frac{x-y}{z-y}=-10, then these numbers must give the desired value for xzyz\frac{x-z}{y-z}. If x=10,y=0x=10, y=0 and z=1z=-1, then xyzy=10\frac{x-y}{z-y}=-10. In this case, xzyz=10(1)0(1)=111=11\frac{x-z}{y-z}=\frac{10-(-1)}{0-(-1)}=\frac{11}{1}=11.

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