document.write( "Question 795381: Please help me solve this application of systems of linear equations problem:\r
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document.write( "Each course at a community college is worth 1 or 2 credits. A group of students is taking a total of 26 courses that are worth a total of 39 credits. How many 1- credit courses are being taken? How many 2- credit courses are being taken?\r
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document.write( "I know that I need a system of linear equations. I made x equal the number of 1 credit courses and y equal the number of 2 credits courses. The first linear equation I made from the information provided is x + y= 39, but that's as far as I got. \n" );
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Algebra.Com's Answer #481186 by cahlove(1)![]() ![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! Your first equation should be: \n" ); document.write( "x + y = 26 \n" ); document.write( "The 2nd equation should be: \n" ); document.write( "1x + 2y = 39\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now that we know the two equations we can use the addition/ elimination method to find our answer. \n" ); document.write( "Let's use the first equation, since the coefficients are 1. \n" ); document.write( "We will multiply the first equation by -2 so the Y variable will cancel out. \n" ); document.write( "-2(x + y = 26) \n" ); document.write( "-2x - 2y = -52\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now that the Y variables are the same, we can add equation two and the new equation we made. \n" ); document.write( " -2x - 2y = -52 \n" ); document.write( "+ 1x + 2y = 39 \n" ); document.write( " -1x = -13 \n" ); document.write( " x = 13\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now that we have x we can plug in back into the original equations to find the value of the y variable. We will use the first equation since it is easier. \n" ); document.write( "x + y = 26 \n" ); document.write( "13 + y = 26 \n" ); document.write( " y = 13\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "To check your work, plug x = 13 and y = 13 back into equations 1 and 2. \n" ); document.write( "Equation 1 \n" ); document.write( "x + y = 26 \n" ); document.write( "13 + 13 = 26 \n" ); document.write( "26 = 26 \n" ); document.write( "Equation 2 \n" ); document.write( "1x +2y = 39 \n" ); document.write( "1(13) + 2(13) = 39 \n" ); document.write( "13 + 26 = 39 \n" ); document.write( "39 = 39\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "How many 1- credit courses are being taken? Thirteen 1- credit courses were taken \n" ); document.write( "How many 2- credit courses are being taken? Thirteen 2- credit courses were taken \n" ); document.write( " |