SOLUTION: I am having a very hard time remembering how to solve this type of system 1/40 + 1/(x+10) = 1/y 1/60 + 1/x = 1/y Thank you, Kristin

Question 74919: I am having a very hard time remembering how to solve this type of system
1/40 + 1/(x+10) = 1/y
1/60 + 1/x = 1/y
Thank you,
Kristin
Answer by bucky(2189) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

.
One method is to look at the denominators of the three terms in this equation. The denominators
are 40, (x+10), and y. Suppose we made a product of all three of these ... that product
being 40*(x+10)*y. Next suppose we multiplied this product times all three of the terms in
the equation. This will get rid of all the denominators as shown below:
.

.
Now cancel the common terms in the numerators and denominators:
.

.
What you are then left with is:
.

.
Multiply out the left side to get:
.
.
.
Factor the common y out on the left side:
.

.
combine the 10 and the 40 on the left side:
.

.
divide both sides by and you get:
.

.
That may be as far as you want to go. Maybe you can multiply out the numerator, but that's
about it.
.
Your second problem is almost the same, and you can use the above technique.
.

.
Multiply all the terms in this equation by 60*x*y, the product of the three denominators.
.
When you do that and cancel like terms in the numerators and denominators you get:
.

.
On the left side, factor the common y to get:
.

.
divide both sides by and you end up with:
.

.
Hope this helps you. Multiplying every term on both sides by a common denominator
enables you to eliminate the denominators entirely, and then you can work what's left just
as you would an ordinary equation. I hope the form of the answers above reflects what you were
asked to do ... namely solve for y in terms of x.
RELATED QUESTIONS
I am having problems remembering how to solve this kind of problem: y-3x=1 Would... (answered by richwmiller)

I am having a hard time doing this can someone help me Use the substitution method... (answered by solver91311)

Solve both algebraically and graphically. 4^(3x-1)=90 log(4^3x-1)=log(90)... (answered by Earlsdon)

I am having a hard time graphing this type of problem. I have the following: (x +... (answered by lwsshak3)

Is there an easy way to solve systems with 3 variables? I'm having a hard time... (answered by longjonsilver)

I am trying to solve this equation and I am having a hard time with it... x^-1 + 3/(x+2)... (answered by Alan3354,Edwin McCravy)

I need to correct this problem and basically write the correct answer {{{ 1/(x-y) =... (answered by jim_thompson5910)

Y/4+5=2(y-1) I having a hard time understanding how to solve this... (answered by Alan3354)

I am trying to solve the following system: x+y =1 and x-y =1. thank... (answered by funmath)