document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=656140>Question 656140</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> solving by elimination<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5x-7y=-49<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3x+9y=-3 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #409358 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=MathLover1><B>MathLover1(20850)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=MathLover1><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=MathLover1><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=409358\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<TABLE  BORDER=1>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( " <TR><TD  ALIGN=MIDDLE>Solved by <A  rel=nofollow HREF=http://wiki.algebra.com/index.php/Tutoring_-_pluggable_solvers>pluggable</A> solver: <A  rel=nofollow HREF=solving_linear_system_by_elimination.solver>Solving a System of Linear Equations by Elimination/Addition</A></TD></TR>\n" );
document.write( "<TR><TD  ALIGN=LEFT><BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  Lets start with the given system of linear equations<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5%2Ax-7%2Ay=-49 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5%2Ax-7%2Ay=-49\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3%2Ax%2B9%2Ay=-3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3%2Ax%2B9%2Ay=-3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\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).<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\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.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\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 5 and 3 to some equal number, we could try to get them to the LCM.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  Since the LCM of 5 and 3 is 15, we need to multiply both sides of the top equation by 3 and multiply both sides of the bottom equation by -5 like this:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3%2A%285%2Ax-7%2Ay%29=%28-49%29%2A3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3%2A%285%2Ax-7%2Ay%29=%28-49%29%2A3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply the top equation (both sides) by 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-5%2A%283%2Ax%2B9%2Ay%29=%28-3%29%2A-5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-5%2A%283%2Ax%2B9%2Ay%29=%28-3%29%2A-5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply the bottom equation (both sides) by -5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  So after multiplying we get this:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=15%2Ax-21%2Ay=-147 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"15%2Ax-21%2Ay=-147\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-15%2Ax-45%2Ay=15 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-15%2Ax-45%2Ay=15\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  Notice how 15 and -15 add to zero (ie <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=15%2B-15=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"15%2B-15=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  Now add the equations together. In order to add 2 equations, group like terms and combine them<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%2815%2Ax-15%2Ax%29-21%2Ay-45%2Ay%29=-147%2B15 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%2815%2Ax-15%2Ax%29-21%2Ay-45%2Ay%29=-147%2B15\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%2815-15%29%2Ax-21-45%29y=-147%2B15 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%2815-15%29%2Ax-21-45%29y=-147%2B15\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=cross%2815%2B-15%29%2Ax%2B%28-21-45%29%2Ay=-147%2B15 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"cross%2815%2B-15%29%2Ax%2B%28-21-45%29%2Ay=-147%2B15\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Notice the x coefficients add to zero and cancel out. This means we've eliminated x altogether.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  So after adding and canceling out the x terms we're left with:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-66%2Ay=-132 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-66%2Ay=-132\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y=-132%2F-66 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y=-132%2F-66\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Divide both sides by <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-66 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-66\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to solve for y<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y=2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y=2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Reduce<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  Now plug this answer into the top equation <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5%2Ax-7%2Ay=-49 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5%2Ax-7%2Ay=-49\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to solve for x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5%2Ax-7%282%29=-49 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5%2Ax-7%282%29=-49\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Plug in <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y=2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y=2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5%2Ax-14=-49 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5%2Ax-14=-49\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5%2Ax=-49%2B14 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5%2Ax=-49%2B14\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Subtract <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-14 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-14\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > from both sides<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5%2Ax=-35 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5%2Ax=-35\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Combine the terms on the right side<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=cross%28%281%2F5%29%285%29%29%2Ax=%28-35%29%281%2F5%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"cross%28%281%2F5%29%285%29%29%2Ax=%28-35%29%281%2F5%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply both sides by <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1%2F5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1%2F5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. This will cancel out <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > on the left side.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=-7 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=-7\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply the terms on the right side<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  So our answer is <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=-7 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=-7\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >,  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y=2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y=2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  which also looks like<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  (<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-7 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-7\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  Notice if we graph the equations (if you need help with graphing, check out this <a  rel=nofollow HREF=http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Linear-equations/graphing-linear-equations.solver>solver</a>)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5%2Ax-7%2Ay=-49 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5%2Ax-7%2Ay=-49\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3%2Ax%2B9%2Ay=-3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3%2Ax%2B9%2Ay=-3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  we get <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%0D%0A++drawing%28+500%2C+600%2C+-17%2C+17%2C+-12%2C+12%2C%0D%0A++++graph%28+500%2C+600%2C+-17%2C+17%2C+-12%2C+12%2C+%28-49-5%2Ax%29%2F-7%2C+%28-3-3%2Ax%29%2F9+%29%2C%0D%0A++++blue%28++circle%28+-7%2C+2%2C+0.226666666666667+%29+%29+%0D%0A++%29%0D%0A++ ALIGN=MIDDLE   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > graph of <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5%2Ax-7%2Ay=-49 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5%2Ax-7%2Ay=-49\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > (red) <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3%2Ax%2B9%2Ay=-3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3%2Ax%2B9%2Ay=-3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > (green) (hint: you may have to solve for y to graph these) and the intersection of the lines (blue circle).<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "  and we can see that the two equations intersect at (<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-7 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-7\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >,<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >). This verifies our answer.</TD></TR>\n" );
document.write( "</TABLE>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );