document.write( "Question 400009: if the two given equations are being solved so that one unknown is eleminated by the method of comparison what step would be essential?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "3x+2y=7 and 6x-5y=8
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Algebra.Com's Answer #283218 by MathLover1(20850)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
given:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"3x%2B2y=7\" and \"6x-5y=8\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "you can solve this system by \"SUBSTITUTION\" or by \"Elimination\"/\"Addition\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I will use \"Elimination\"/\"Addition\":\r
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Solved by pluggable solver: Solving a System of Linear Equations by Elimination/Addition

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\n" ); document.write( " Lets start with the given system of linear equations
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\n" ); document.write( " \"3%2Ax%2B2%2Ay=7\"
\n" ); document.write( " \"6%2Ax-5%2Ay=8\"
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\n" ); document.write( " In order to solve for one variable, we must eliminate the other variable. So if we wanted to solve for y, we would have to eliminate x (or vice versa).
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\n" ); document.write( " So lets eliminate x. In order to do that, we need to have both x coefficients that are equal but have opposite signs (for instance 2 and -2 are equal but have opposite signs). This way they will add to zero.
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\n" ); document.write( " So to make the x coefficients equal but opposite, we need to multiply both x coefficients by some number to get them to an equal number. So if we wanted to get 3 and 6 to some equal number, we could try to get them to the LCM.
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\n" ); document.write( " Since the LCM of 3 and 6 is 6, we need to multiply both sides of the top equation by 2 and multiply both sides of the bottom equation by -1 like this:
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\n" ); document.write( " \"2%2A%283%2Ax%2B2%2Ay%29=%287%29%2A2\" Multiply the top equation (both sides) by 2
\n" ); document.write( " \"-1%2A%286%2Ax-5%2Ay%29=%288%29%2A-1\" Multiply the bottom equation (both sides) by -1
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\n" ); document.write( " So after multiplying we get this:
\n" ); document.write( " \"6%2Ax%2B4%2Ay=14\"
\n" ); document.write( " \"-6%2Ax%2B5%2Ay=-8\"
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\n" ); document.write( " Notice how 6 and -6 add to zero (ie \"6%2B-6=0\")
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\n" ); document.write( " Now add the equations together. In order to add 2 equations, group like terms and combine them
\n" ); document.write( " \"%286%2Ax-6%2Ax%29%2B%284%2Ay%2B5%2Ay%29=14-8\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"%286-6%29%2Ax%2B%284%2B5%29y=14-8\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"cross%286%2B-6%29%2Ax%2B%284%2B5%29%2Ay=14-8\" Notice the x coefficients add to zero and cancel out. This means we've eliminated x altogether.
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\n" ); document.write( " So after adding and canceling out the x terms we're left with:
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\n" ); document.write( " \"9%2Ay=6\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y=6%2F9\" Divide both sides by \"9\" to solve for y
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y=2%2F3\" Reduce
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\n" ); document.write( " Now plug this answer into the top equation \"3%2Ax%2B2%2Ay=7\" to solve for x
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\n" ); document.write( " \"3%2Ax%2B2%282%2F3%29=7\" Plug in \"y=2%2F3\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"3%2Ax%2B4%2F3=7\" Multiply
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\n" ); document.write( " \"3%2Ax%2B4%2F3=7\" Reduce
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\n" ); document.write( " \"3%2Ax=7-4%2F3\" Subtract \"4%2F3\" from both sides
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\n" ); document.write( " \"3%2Ax=21%2F3-4%2F3\" Make 7 into a fraction with a denominator of 3
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\n" ); document.write( " \"3%2Ax=17%2F3\" Combine the terms on the right side
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\n" ); document.write( " \"cross%28%281%2F3%29%283%29%29%2Ax=%2817%2F3%29%281%2F3%29\" Multiply both sides by \"1%2F3\". This will cancel out \"3\" on the left side.
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x=17%2F9\" Multiply the terms on the right side
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\n" ); document.write( " So our answer is
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x=17%2F9\", \"y=2%2F3\"
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\n" ); document.write( " which also looks like
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\n" ); document.write( " (\"17%2F9\", \"2%2F3\")
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\n" ); document.write( " Notice if we graph the equations (if you need help with graphing, check out this solver)
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\n" ); document.write( " \"3%2Ax%2B2%2Ay=7\"
\n" ); document.write( " \"6%2Ax-5%2Ay=8\"
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\n" ); document.write( " we get
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\n" ); document.write( " graph of \"3%2Ax%2B2%2Ay=7\" (red) \"6%2Ax-5%2Ay=8\" (green) (hint: you may have to solve for y to graph these) and the intersection of the lines (blue circle).
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\n" ); document.write( " and we can see that the two equations intersect at (\"17%2F9\",\"2%2F3\"). This verifies our answer.
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