What is the value of b?

Question

If a/b < b/a,

a^2 and ab=18,

what is the value of b?

Please explain step by step.

Answer 1

Amanda, there’s something wrong with the problem. For example here are three solutions in integers, and there are others in fractions.

(a,b) = (1,18; 2,9; 3,6)

perhaps there’s something missing before or after a^2.

Answer 2

If a² = 18, then a = ±3√2

If a² = ab, then b = a, or b = ±3√2

With these values the first condition cannot be met.

Please review the data/conditions.