SOLUTION: I understand that the point of elimination is to eliminate one variable in order to isolate the other. But what happens in cases where both variables would be eliminated? For exa

Question 712963:
I understand that the point of elimination is to eliminate one variable in order to isolate the other. But what happens in cases where both variables would be eliminated? For example,
2x + 18y = 22
-x - 9y = -11

I found that x = 2 and y = 1 through guesswork, but I'm not sure how I could get the correct answers using elimination alone. I tried multiplying the lower set by negative two and got stuck with 0 = 0.
Thank you very much in advance
Also, I have to say, the example of a bad question made me chuckle
Answer by Alan3354(69443) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I understand that the point of elimination is to eliminate one variable in order to isolate the other. But what happens in cases where both variables would be eliminated? For example,
2x + 18y = 22
-x - 9y = -11

I found that x = 2 and y = 1 through guesswork, but I'm not sure how I could get the correct answers using elimination alone. I tried multiplying the lower set by negative two and got stuck with 0 = 0.
---------------
The 1st eqn is -2 times the 2nd.
--> dependent --> an infinite # of solutions.
You can pick and value for x and find y, or vice versa.
If you graph them, you get the same line 2 times.

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