How do you solve #3y-5=y+2y-9#?

1 Answer
Aug 21, 2016

There is no solution to this equation. We end up with a false statement without a variable.

#y# has no value...

Explanation:

As first glance this seems like a normal equation until we get to the end.
Simplify first.

#3y - 5 = 3y -9#

This should strike you as strange.. How can we subtract different numbers from #3y# and still have the answers equal???

If you carry on as usual, we get :

#3y - 3y = -9+5#

#0 = -4# This is clearly a FALSE statement and there is no longer a variable we can solve for..

The implication of this type of answer is that the original answer cannot be solved. There is no solution.

#y# has no value