Given that $a, b \in\{0,1,2, \ldots, 9\}$ with $a+b \neq 0$ and that…

Given that $a, b \in\{0,1,2, \ldots, 9\}$ with $a+b \neq 0$ and that $\left(a+\frac{b}{10}\right)^x=\left(\frac{a}{10}+\frac{b}{100}\right)^y=1000 . \quad$ Then, $\frac{1}{x}-\frac{1}{y}$ is equal to
  1. $1$
  2. $\frac{1}{2}$
  3. $\frac{1}{3}$
  4. $\frac{1}{4}$

Solution

Given that, $\left(a+\frac{b}{10}\right)^x=\left(\frac{a}{10}+\frac{b}{100}\right)^y=1000$ Let $\quad a=0$ and $b=1$ $\begin{aligned} & \therefore \quad\left(\frac{1}{10}\right)^x=\left(\frac{1}{100}\right)^y=1000 \\ & \Rightarrow \quad 10^{-x}=10^{-2 y}=10^3 \\ & \Rightarrow \quad x=-3, y=-\frac{3}{2} \\ & \end{aligned}$ Now, $\frac{1}{x}-\frac{1}{y}=-\frac{1}{3}+\frac{2}{3}=\frac{1}{3}$

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2008

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