document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=81230>Question 81230</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Could you please help me out with this problem. Math is so hard and confusing to me.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4x-12y=5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-x+3y=-1 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #58239 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><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/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=58239\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 4x-12y=5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-x+3y=-1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-----------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "You can solve the system by elimination, as follows:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Multiply thru the 2nd equation by 4 to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-4x+12y = -4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-----------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Add that to the 1st equation to get rid of the x terms:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "You get 0x+0y = 1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "This says 0 = 1 which is incorrect.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Comment: Why did this happen?  You assumed the x's and the y's<BR>\n" );
document.write( "in both equations meant the same number.  That assumption led<BR>\n" );
document.write( "to the contradiction.  You have to conclude the x's and the y's<BR>\n" );
document.write( "do not mean the same number in these two equations.  The <BR>\n" );
document.write( "systme is called \"inconsistent\" and has no solution.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "=============<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );