How many solutions does the system of equations have: #y= - 6x + 5; y = - 6x + \frac { 1} { 7}#?

1 Answer
Mar 31, 2017

There is no solution.

Explanation:

Consider the generic form of #" "y=mx+c#

Where #m# is the slope and #c# is the y-intercept.

Both these equations have the same value for #m->-6#

So they have the same slope and thus are parallel

However, the value of #c# is different in that one is 5 and the other is #1/7#

So they are parallel and cross the y-axis in different places. This means that they do not cross each other thus they do not have a common point.

It is the common point that forms the solution to a system of equations. As there is no common point then there is no solution.