How do you solve the system of equations #-2x - 8y = - 16# and #2x - 7y = - 14#?

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Answer 1 · 2016-11-28T22:23:14

#x = 0# and #y = 2#

Step 1) Solve the first equation for #x#:

#-2x - 8y + 8y = -16 + 8y#

#-2x = -16 + 8y#

#(-2x)/-2 = (-16 + 8y)/-2#

#x = -8 + 4y#

Step 2) Substitute #-8 + 4y# for #x# in the second equation and solve for #y#:

#2(-8 + 4y) - 7y = -14#

#-16 + 8y - 7y = -14#

#-16 + y = -14#

#-16 + 16 + y = -14 + 16#

#y = 2#

Step 3) Substitute #2# for #y# in the solution to the equation in Step 1) and calculate #x#:

#x = -8 + 4*2#

#x = -8 + 8#

#x = 0#