document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=760220>Question 760220</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The sum of two numbers is 23. Seven times the first number less five times the second number is equal to 5. What are the two numbers?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a + b = 23\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "7a + 5b = 5\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "S: not sure what to do after that </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #462512 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=unlockmath><B>unlockmath(1688)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-12.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=unlockmath><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=unlockmath><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=462512\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Hello, <BR>\n" );
document.write( "With this:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a + b = 23<BR>\n" );
document.write( "7a + 5b = 5 <BR>\n" );
document.write( "You almost had is set up correctly. The right way is:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a + b = 23<BR>\n" );
document.write( "7a - 5b = 5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "We can solve this two different ways; Substitution or elimination.Let's do substitution by setting the first equation as:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a=23-b and plug this into the second equation as:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "7(23-b)-5b= 5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Now we have one variable (b) to solve:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "161-7b-5b=5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Simplify and subtract 161 to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "12b= -156<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Divide by 12 and we get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b=13<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Now that we know what the value of b is we can plug this into the first or second equation to find the answer for \"a\". I'lllet you figure that one out. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Make sense?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "RJ<BR>\n" );
document.write( "www.math-unlock.com  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );