Question #6a010

1 Answer
Nov 22, 2016

Consider the following system.

#{(x + y = 5), (-2x + 5y = 4):}#

Now, the addition/subtraction method is used to eliminate one of the variables. We can do this to the above equation for #x# by multiplying the first equation by #2# and using the addition method.

#1)" "2(x + y) = 2(5)#

#2x + 2y= 10#

The system becomes:

#{(2x + 2y = 10), (-2x + 5y = 4):}#, which can be solved by elimination:

#0x + 7y = 14#

#y = 2#

#x +y = 5#

#x + 2 = 5#

#x = 3#

Practice exercises:

  1. Solve each system through elimination.

a) #{(x - 6y = -1), (4x + y = 21):}#

b) #{(3x + 4y = -2), (7x - 3y = 20):}#

Hopefully this helps, and good luck!