How do you solve 3x+4y=-10 and x-4y=2?

1 Answer
Mar 21, 2016

x = -2; y = -1

Explanation:

First solve for x by adding the two equations:

3x + 4y = -10
+x - 4y = 2

This gives you:
4x = -8, so x = -2

Then you can solve for y by either plugging -2 in for x or by multiplying the second equation by -3 and adding the two equations again:

    #3x + 4y = -10#

+-3(x - 4y) = 2*-3

This gives:
16y = -16, so y = -1

You can verify your answer by plugging -2 in for x and -1 in for y in both equations.