SOLUTION: I am studying the cliffsnotes algebra 1 book. My problem is solving equations with two variables. The example problem in the book is 3x+3y=24 and 2x+y=13. The example in the book s

Question 154278: I am studying the cliffsnotes algebra 1 book. My problem is solving equations with two variables. The example problem in the book is 3x+3y=24 and 2x+y=13. The example in the book starts the problem out by multiplying the 2x+y=13 by 3.
I wanted to know why 3. The example wants the x and y solved for both equations. The book explains to subtract the equations.
I would appreciate any help.
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Well that's a good question. Personally I would have chosen another number entirely.

Start with the given system of equations:

Now in order to solve this system by using elimination/addition, we need to solve (or isolate) one variable. I'm going to solve for y.

In order to solve for one variable, we must eliminate the other variable. So if we wanted to solve for , we would have to eliminate (or vice versa).

So lets eliminate . In order to do that, we need to have both coefficients that are equal in magnitude but have opposite signs (for instance 2 and -2 are equal in magnitude but have opposite signs). This way they will add to zero. By adding to zero, they can be eliminated.

So to make the coefficients equal in magnitude but opposite in sign, we need to multiply both coefficients by some number to get them to an common number. So if we wanted to get and to some equal number, we could try to get them to the LCM.

Since the LCM of and is , we need to multiply both sides of the top equation by and multiply both sides of the bottom equation by like this:

Multiply the top equation (both sides) by
Multiply the bottom equation (both sides) by

Distribute and multiply

Now add the equations together. In order to add 2 equations, group like terms and combine them

Combine like terms and simplify

Notice how the x terms cancel out

Simplify

Divide both sides by to isolate y

Reduce

Now plug this answer into the top equation to solve for x

Start with the first equation

Plug in

Multiply

Subtract 9 from both sides

Combine like terms on the right side

Divide both sides by 3 to isolate x

Divide

So our answer is
and

which also looks like

Now let's graph the two equations (if you need help with graphing, check out this solver)

From the graph, we can see that the two equations intersect at

. This visually verifies our answer.

graph of (red) and (green) and the intersection of the lines (blue circle).

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