Question:
The sum of two numbers is 16. The sum of their reciprocals is 1/3. Find the numbers.
Solution:
Let one numbers be $x$ then other $(16-x)$.
Then according to question
$\frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{(16-x)}=\frac{1}{3}$
$\frac{16}{\left(16 x-x^{2}\right)}=\frac{1}{3}$
By cross multiplication
$16 x-x^{2}=48$
$x^{2}-16 x+48=0$
$x^{2}-12 x-4 x-48=0$
$x(x-12)-4(x-12)=0$
$(x-12)(x-4)=0$
$(x-12)=0$
$x=12$
Or
$(x-4)=0$
$x=4$
Since, x being a number,
Therefore,
When $x=12$ then
$16-x=16-12$
$=4$
Thus, two consecutive number be either 4,12