document.write( "Question 94410: Can not figure this one out?\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Solve the system by addition or substitution.
\n" ); document.write( " 3x – 4y = 8
\n" ); document.write( " 6x – 2y = 10
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Algebra.Com's Answer #68785 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"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( " \"3%2Ax-4%2Ay=8\"
\n" ); document.write( " \"6%2Ax-2%2Ay=10\"
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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 3 and 6 to some equal number, we could try to get them to the LCM.
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\n" ); document.write( " Since the LCM of 3 and 6 is 6, we need to multiply both sides of the top equation by 2 and multiply both sides of the bottom equation by -1 like this:
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\n" ); document.write( " \"2%2A%283%2Ax-4%2Ay%29=%288%29%2A2\" Multiply the top equation (both sides) by 2
\n" ); document.write( " \"-1%2A%286%2Ax-2%2Ay%29=%2810%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( " \"6%2Ax-8%2Ay=16\"
\n" ); document.write( " \"-6%2Ax%2B2%2Ay=-10\"
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\n" ); document.write( " Notice how 6 and -6 add to zero (ie \"6%2B-6=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( " \"%286%2Ax-6%2Ax%29-8%2Ay%2B2%2Ay%29=16-10\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"%286-6%29%2Ax-8%2B2%29y=16-10\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"cross%286%2B-6%29%2Ax%2B%28-8%2B2%29%2Ay=16-10\" 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( " \"-6%2Ay=6\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y=6%2F-6\" Divide both sides by \"-6\" to solve for y
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y=-1\" Reduce
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\n" ); document.write( " Now plug this answer into the top equation \"3%2Ax-4%2Ay=8\" to solve for x
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\n" ); document.write( " \"3%2Ax-4%28-1%29=8\" Plug in \"y=-1\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"3%2Ax%2B4=8\" Multiply
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\n" ); document.write( " \"3%2Ax=8-4\" Subtract \"4\" from both sides
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\n" ); document.write( " \"3%2Ax=4\" Combine the terms on the right side
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\n" ); document.write( " \"cross%28%281%2F3%29%283%29%29%2Ax=%284%29%281%2F3%29\" Multiply both sides by \"1%2F3\". This will cancel out \"3\" on the left side.
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x=4%2F3\" 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=4%2F3\", \"y=-1\"
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\n" ); document.write( " which also looks like
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\n" ); document.write( " (\"4%2F3\", \"-1\")
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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( " \"3%2Ax-4%2Ay=8\"
\n" ); document.write( " \"6%2Ax-2%2Ay=10\"
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\n" ); document.write( " we get
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\n" ); document.write( " graph of \"3%2Ax-4%2Ay=8\" (red) \"6%2Ax-2%2Ay=10\" (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 (\"4%2F3\",\"-1\"). This verifies our answer.

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