document.write( "Question 56645: How do I know which one to subtract by? \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "EX. -7x-3y=42 \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Would I subtract by -7x or -3y?
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Algebra.Com's Answer #38472 by tutorcecilia(2152)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
-7x-3y=42 [You are trying to find the value of y, so isolate the y term. Because you are trying to re-write the equation in the slope-intercept form of (y=mx+b), so in this case, isolate the y]
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\n" ); document.write( "-7x+7x-3y=+7x+42 [Add (7x) to both sides]
\n" ); document.write( "-3y=7x+42 [Divide both sides by (-3)]
\n" ); document.write( "-3y/-3=7x/-3+42/-3
\n" ); document.write( "y=(-7/3)x+(-42/3) [Simplify]
\n" ); document.write( "y=-7/3x-14
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