document.write( "Question 184248: Explain why you might need to multiply each equation by a different number when solving a system by Elimination. Explain why. \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #138321 by jeselle(2) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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to eliminate one of the variables,
\n" ); document.write( "in the process of elimination,you can either use addition or subtraction
\n" ); document.write( "and for you to eliminate one variable,for example,variables x and y,
\n" ); document.write( "then you want to eliminate x,the coefficient of x in the two equations must be the same but must have opposite signs if you'll use addition(to zero out the 2 x's from the 2 equation) or the same signs for subtraction(the sign of the subtrahend is changed to its opposite when performing subtaction)
\n" ); document.write( "because you cannot give a value to both variables at the same time,
\n" ); document.write( "so you must eliminate one then you'll obtain a value for the other
\n" ); document.write( "and then you'll substitute that value to any of the two equations to get the value of the other variable \n" ); document.write( "

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