document.write( "Question 945463: Solve the system using elimination.
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\n" ); document.write( "2x + 9y = 36
\n" ); document.write( "2x - y = 16
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Algebra.Com's Answer #576637 by MathLover1(20849)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

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Solved by pluggable solver: Solving a System of Linear Equations by Elimination/Addition

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\n" ); document.write( " Lets start with the given system of linear equations
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\n" ); document.write( " \"2%2Ax%2B9%2Ay=36\"
\n" ); document.write( " \"2%2Ax%2B1%2Ay=16\"
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\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).
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\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.
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\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 2 and 2 to some equal number, we could try to get them to the LCM.
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\n" ); document.write( " Since the LCM of 2 and 2 is 2, we need to multiply both sides of the top equation by 1 and multiply both sides of the bottom equation by -1 like this:
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\n" ); document.write( " \"1%2A%282%2Ax%2B9%2Ay%29=%2836%29%2A1\" Multiply the top equation (both sides) by 1
\n" ); document.write( " \"-1%2A%282%2Ax%2B1%2Ay%29=%2816%29%2A-1\" Multiply the bottom equation (both sides) by -1
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\n" ); document.write( " So after multiplying we get this:
\n" ); document.write( " \"2%2Ax%2B9%2Ay=36\"
\n" ); document.write( " \"-2%2Ax-1%2Ay=-16\"
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\n" ); document.write( " Notice how 2 and -2 add to zero (ie \"2%2B-2=0\")
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\n" ); document.write( " Now add the equations together. In order to add 2 equations, group like terms and combine them
\n" ); document.write( " \"%282%2Ax-2%2Ax%29%2B%289%2Ay-1%2Ay%29=36-16\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"%282-2%29%2Ax%2B%289-1%29y=36-16\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"cross%282%2B-2%29%2Ax%2B%289-1%29%2Ay=36-16\" Notice the x coefficients add to zero and cancel out. This means we've eliminated x altogether.
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\n" ); document.write( " So after adding and canceling out the x terms we're left with:
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\n" ); document.write( " \"8%2Ay=20\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y=20%2F8\" Divide both sides by \"8\" to solve for y
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y=5%2F2\" Reduce
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\n" ); document.write( " Now plug this answer into the top equation \"2%2Ax%2B9%2Ay=36\" to solve for x
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\n" ); document.write( " \"2%2Ax%2B9%285%2F2%29=36\" Plug in \"y=5%2F2\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"2%2Ax%2B45%2F2=36\" Multiply
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\n" ); document.write( " \"2%2Ax%2B45%2F2=36\" Reduce
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\n" ); document.write( " \"2%2Ax=36-45%2F2\" Subtract \"45%2F2\" from both sides
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\n" ); document.write( " \"2%2Ax=72%2F2-45%2F2\" Make 36 into a fraction with a denominator of 2
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\n" ); document.write( " \"2%2Ax=27%2F2\" Combine the terms on the right side
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\n" ); document.write( " \"cross%28%281%2F2%29%282%29%29%2Ax=%2827%2F2%29%281%2F2%29\" Multiply both sides by \"1%2F2\". This will cancel out \"2\" on the left side.
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x=27%2F4\" Multiply the terms on the right side
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\n" ); document.write( " So our answer is
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x=27%2F4\", \"y=5%2F2\"
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\n" ); document.write( " which also looks like
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\n" ); document.write( " (\"27%2F4\", \"5%2F2\")
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\n" ); document.write( " Notice if we graph the equations (if you need help with graphing, check out this solver)
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\n" ); document.write( " \"2%2Ax%2B9%2Ay=36\"
\n" ); document.write( " \"2%2Ax%2B1%2Ay=16\"
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\n" ); document.write( " we get
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\n" ); document.write( " graph of \"2%2Ax%2B9%2Ay=36\" (red) \"2%2Ax%2B1%2Ay=16\" (green) (hint: you may have to solve for y to graph these) and the intersection of the lines (blue circle).
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\n" ); document.write( " and we can see that the two equations intersect at (\"27%2F4\",\"5%2F2\"). This verifies our answer.
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