A teacher wrote the equation 3y + 12 = 6x3y+12=6x on the board. For what value of bb would the additional equation 2y = 4x +b2y=4x+b form a system of linear equations with infinitely many solutions?

1 Answer
Oct 21, 2017

bb would have to be -88 in order for there to be infinitely many solutions to the system 3y+12=6x3y+12=6x and 2y=4x+b2y=4x+b.

Explanation:

Let's review first. When does a system of equations haveinfinitely many solutions? Easy! When they're the same equation. Because when they're the same equation, they will both have identical solutions.

So, we trying to find the value for bb such that when plugged into the equation 2y=4x+b2y=4x+b, it will have infinitely many solutions with the other equation 3y+12=6x3y+12=6x. According to our paragraph above,

3y+12=6x3y+12=6x

and

2y=4x+b2y=4x+b

are the same equation.

Before we get started, let's organize the equations a little bit so that they're both in y=mx+by=mx+b form:

y=2x-4y=2x4

and

y=2x+1/2by=2x+12b

The yy's are the same, so

2x-4=2x+1/2b2x4=2x+12b

We can see that the 2x2x's are also the same, so that leaves

-4=1/2b4=12b

Using simple algebra, we get

b=-8b=8