How do you solve the system #-4x+ y =6# and #-5x - y =21# by substitution?

2 Answers
May 21, 2015

#-4x+ y =6# ----------(1)
#-5x - y =21#----------(2)

We can transpose #-4x# in the first equation to the right hand side:

# y = 4x + 6# ------(3)

Substituting #y# from the third equation into the second one gives us:

# - 5x - (4x+6) = 21#

# -5x - 4x - 6 = 21#

#-9x - 6 = 21#

#-9x = 21+6#

#-9x = 27#

Dividing both sides by #-9# will give us:

#(cancel(-9)x)/cancel(-9) = 27/-9#

#color(green)(x = -3#

Substituting #x = -3# in the third equation will give us :

#y = 4(-3) + 6#

#y = -12 + 6#

# color(green)( y = -6#

The solution to both these equations :#x = -3; y = -6#

Verify :

Substitute the values of #x and y# in both the equations to see if they are satisfied