Question

How do you solve the system `(3/4)x - (1/2)y = -(1/2)` and `x + y = -(3/2)`?

Answer 1

Simplify your equations by multiplying both sides by a constant to clear the fractions then solve as normal.

`(3/4)x - (1/2)y = -(1/2)` multiplied by `4` becomes
`3x - 2y = -2`

`x+y= -(3/2)` multiplied by `2` becomes
`2x+2y = -3`

Adding these modified equations together gives
`5x = -5`

So
`x=-1`
and by substitution back into any one of the prior equations
`y=-1/2`