document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1015598>Question 1015598</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A student is using the elimination method to solve the system of equations below. What is the best first step?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3x - y = 5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2x + 3y = 10 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #631964 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=addingup><B>addingup(3677)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=addingup><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=addingup><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=631964\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 3x - y = 5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2x + 3y = 10<BR>\n" );
document.write( "~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3x - y = 5 <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Multiply times 3:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "9x-3y = 15 <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Now add both equations:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "9x-3y = 15<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2x+3y = 10<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-----------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "11x = 25<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = 2.27<BR>\n" );
document.write( "~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3(2.27)-y= 5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "6.81-y = 5 Multiply both sides times -1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-6.81+y= -5 Add 6.81 on both sides:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "y = 1.81<BR>\n" );
document.write( "~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Check:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3(2.27)-1.81= 5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "6.82-1.81= 5 Subtract on left, you get 5 We have the correct answer.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The other equation:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2x+3y = 10<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2(2.27)+3(1.81) = 10<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4.55+5.45 = 10 Again we have the right answer.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "J  <BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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