Solve each of the following systems by addition. 2x+3y = 1 5x+3y = 16 The idea is to multiply each equation by whatever number will be such that when you add the equations vertically, one of the letters will cancel out. The 3y in the top can be made to cancel with the 3y in the bottom if one of them became -3y and the other remained +3y. So we multiply the first equation through by -1 and the second equation through by +1: -1[2x+3y = 1] +1[5x+3y = 16] This becomes: -2x-3y = -1 5x+3y = 16 Now we draw a line underneath and add vertically term by term: -2x-3y = -1 5x+3y = 16 ---------- 3x = 15 Which we solve and get x = 5 Now you can finish by switching over to substition, which is what many teachers and books tell you to do. However, to finish by addition, start over and eliminate the x terms: 2x+3y = 1 5x+3y = 16 The 2x in the top can be made to cancel with the 5x in the bottom if one of them becomes -10x and the other becomes +10x, since 10 is the LCM of 2 and 5. So we multiply the first equation through by -5 and the second equation through by +2: -5[2x+3y = 1] +2[5x+3y = 16] This becomes: -10x-15y = -5 10x+ 6y = 32 Now we draw a line underneath and add vertically term by term: -10x-15y = -5 10x+ 6y = 32 ----------- -9y = 27 Which we solve and get y = -3 So the solution is (x,y) = (5,-3) Edwin