If x2+1x2=18, find the values of x+1x and x−1x.
x2+1x2=18Adding 2 to both sides,x2+2+1x2=18+2⇒ (x+1x)2=20∴ x+1x=√20Again x2+1x2=18Subtracting 2 from both sides,x2−2+1x2=18−2=16(x−1x)2=(4)2∴ x−1x=4Hence x+1x=√20 and x−1x=4