First question on Math.stackexchange so please bear with me as I am not sure of the terminology (or formatting syntax) to be used. I have read the FAQ, List of Common questions and the formatting FAQ (which is still confusing me). I do not see an issue with posting this question here, nor see its premise answered in the common questions. (Please add tags as appropriate, I do not see one for 'This isn't homework, but I would greatly appreciate it if someone would explain to me just WTF is going on!')
The problem A colleague presented a mathematical equation to me in hopes that I could 'solve it' for them. The person explained the results they are expecting, however I am entirely unsure how to come to or provide a solution.
The problem presented is thus:
Given a product(?) and a pseudo formula with static numbers, determine the variable (s). Given two pseudo formulas, s must be the same numbers in both formulas.
Unknown is the operation(s) needed in order come to the right solution. That is, we know the values of all values except for the variable s
. How do we come to the determine the variable, while ensuring the variable is the same in the future. s
should be static because the other numbers in these formulas will be variables themselves.
Ex values
$1.27 = \frac{39500 \;(?operations?)\; s}{255}\tag{1}$
$1.07 = \frac{39500 \;(?operations?)\; s}{241}\tag{2}$
The attempted solution I took the problem to mean 'Determine the operation(s) needed to prove that s is the same in both this formulas.'
I started with simple multiplication on the separate formulas: $1.27 = \frac{(39500 \times s)}{255}$
$1.07 = \frac{(39500 \times s )}{241}$
This attempted solution gives $s = 0.00819873$ and $s = 0.00722325$, but $0.00819873 \neq 0.00722325$; therefore it is not correct. I really am not a particularly smart math guy, and so the limit of my knowledge has been reached after attempting additional operations and not getting anywhere near a solution.
The question(s)
Is this even solvable, without knowing precisely the operations required? How? What methods would I take to designing the formula in order to know the value of s as a constant afterward?? What is the formula? WHAT IS s?!