Question

How do you solve the following system?: `-4x+6y=8 , x-5y=4`

Answer 1

`x=-32/7` `y=-12/7`

Explanation:

To solve by elimination you will need to make coefficients of x or y "match" so that when you add or subtract the equations one of the variables will be eliminated.

If we multiply the second equation by 4 we get:

`-4x + 6y = 8`

`4x - 20y = 16`

Now if we add the two new equations, we will eliminate x and will be able to solve an equation in y.

`-14y = 24 implies y=-12/7`

Substitute this back into one of the original equations to find x.

`x-5*-12/7=4`
`x+60/7 = 4`
`x=4-60/7=-32/7`
`x=-32/7`