document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=583541>Question 583541</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Select the best possible first step to solving the system by first eliminating the x variable<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x – 12y = –2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3x + 4y = 18 <BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #372487 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=mananth><B>mananth(16946)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=mananth><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=mananth><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=372487\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> x – 12y = –2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3x + 4y = 18 \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(x – 12y = –2)*-3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-3x+36y=6................(1)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3x + 4y = 18 .............(2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "add the equations\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "40y= 24\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "y= 24/40\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "y=3/5\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "plug y in x-12y=-2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x-12(3/5)=-2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x-36/5 =-2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=36/5 -2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x=26/5 </SPAN>\n" );
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