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Number of Values that Satisfy the Equation

Source: 1966 AHSME #33

August 31, 2011
AMC

Problem Statement

If ab0ab\ne0 and ab|a|\ne|b| the number of distinct values of xx satisfying the equation xab+xba=bxa+axb\dfrac{x-a}{b}+\dfrac{x-b}{a}=\dfrac{b}{x-a}+\dfrac{a}{x-b} is: (A) zero(B) one(C) two(D) three(E) four\text{(A)}\ \text{zero}\qquad \text{(B)}\ \text{one}\qquad \text{(C)}\ \text{two}\qquad \text{(D)}\ \text{three}\qquad \text{(E)}\ \text{four}