document.write( "Question 252508: what multiplier should be used for each of the following equations to eliminate one unknown by subtraction?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "3x-y=7
\n" ); document.write( "2x+7y=42
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Algebra.Com's Answer #184481 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The multiplier is 7 since this will change -y into -7y. Add this to 7y to get -7+7y=0y=0 which means that it cancels out.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Start with the given system of equations:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"system%283x-y=7%2C2x%2B7y=42%29\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"7%283x-y%29=7%287%29\" Multiply the both sides of the first equation by 7.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"21x-7y=49\" Distribute and multiply.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So we have the new system of equations:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"system%2821x-7y=49%2C2x%2B7y=42%29\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now add the equations together. You can do this by simply adding the two left sides and the two right sides separately like this:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%2821x-7y%29%2B%282x%2B7y%29=%2849%29%2B%2842%29\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%2821x%2B2x%29%2B%28-7y%2B7y%29=49%2B42\" Group like terms.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"23x%2B0y=91\" Combine like terms.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"23x=91\" Simplify.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=%2891%29%2F%2823%29\" Divide both sides by \"23\" to isolate \"x\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"21x-7y=49\" Now go back to the first equation.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"21%2891%2F23%29-7y=49\" Plug in \"x=91%2F23\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"1911%2F23-7y=49\" Multiply.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"23%281911%2Fcross%2823%29-7y%29=23%2849%29\" Multiply both sides by the LCD \"23\" to clear any fractions.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"1911-161y=1127\" Distribute and multiply.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"-161y=1127-1911\" Subtract \"1911\" from both sides.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"-161y=-784\" Combine like terms on the right side.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y=%28-784%29%2F%28-161%29\" Divide both sides by \"-161\" to isolate \"y\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y=112%2F23\" Reduce.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the solutions are \"x=91%2F23\" and \"y=112%2F23\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Which form the ordered pair .\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "This means that the system is consistent and independent.\r
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