Answer
(a) yes
(b) no
Work Step by Step
(a) Using $x=0$, we get:
Left side:
$\displaystyle \frac{0-a}{0-b}=\frac{-a}{-b}=\frac{a}{b}$
Right side:
$\displaystyle \frac{a}{b}$
The sides match, so $x=0$ is a solution.
(b) Using $x=b$, we get:
Left side:
$\displaystyle \frac{b-a}{b-b}=\frac{b-a}{0}=undefined$
Right side:
$\displaystyle \frac{a}{b}$
The sides do not match, and we have an undefined left side, so $x=b$ is not a solution.
