document.write( "Question 117112: Solve the system by addition\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "-2x+7y=15
\n" ); document.write( "x-4y=-10\r
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Algebra.Com's Answer #85166 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%2B7%2Ay=15\"
\n" ); document.write( " \"1%2Ax-4%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 -2 and 1 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 1 is -2, we need to multiply both sides of the top equation by 1 and multiply both sides of the bottom equation by 2 like this:
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\n" ); document.write( " \"1%2A%28-2%2Ax%2B7%2Ay%29=%2815%29%2A1\" Multiply the top equation (both sides) by 1
\n" ); document.write( " \"2%2A%281%2Ax-4%2Ay%29=%28-10%29%2A2\" Multiply the bottom equation (both sides) by 2
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\n" ); document.write( " So after multiplying we get this:
\n" ); document.write( " \"-2%2Ax%2B7%2Ay=15\"
\n" ); document.write( " \"2%2Ax-8%2Ay=-20\"
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\n" ); document.write( " Notice how -2 and 2 add to zero (ie \"-2%2B2=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( " \"%28-2%2Ax%2B2%2Ax%29%2B%287%2Ay-8%2Ay%29=15-20\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"%28-2%2B2%29%2Ax%2B%287-8%29y=15-20\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"cross%28-2%2B2%29%2Ax%2B%287-8%29%2Ay=15-20\" 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( " \"-1%2Ay=-5\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y=-5%2F-1\" Divide both sides by \"-1\" to solve for y
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y=5\" Reduce
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\n" ); document.write( " Now plug this answer into the top equation \"-2%2Ax%2B7%2Ay=15\" to solve for x
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\n" ); document.write( " \"-2%2Ax%2B7%285%29=15\" Plug in \"y=5\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"-2%2Ax%2B35=15\" Multiply
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\n" ); document.write( " \"-2%2Ax=15-35\" Subtract \"35\" from both sides
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\n" ); document.write( " \"-2%2Ax=-20\" Combine the terms on the right side
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\n" ); document.write( " \"cross%28%281%2F-2%29%28-2%29%29%2Ax=%28-20%29%281%2F-2%29\" Multiply both sides by \"1%2F-2\". This will cancel out \"-2\" on the left side.
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x=10\" 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=10\", \"y=5\"
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\n" ); document.write( " which also looks like
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\n" ); document.write( " (\"10\", \"5\")
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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%2B7%2Ay=15\"
\n" ); document.write( " \"1%2Ax-4%2Ay=-10\"
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\n" ); document.write( " we get
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\n" ); document.write( " graph of \"-2%2Ax%2B7%2Ay=15\" (red) \"1%2Ax-4%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 (\"10\",\"5\"). This verifies our answer.

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