Let the number be 2 Since p is the difference between a number and its reciprocal ⇒2−1∕2=3∕2=p ⇒p4+4p2=p2(p2+4)=(9∕4)[9∕4+4] ⇒p4+4p2=225∕16 Since q is the difference between the square of the same number and the square of its reciprocal ⇒(2)2−(1∕2)2=15∕4=q ⇒q2=225∕16 ∴ The required value is q2