SOLUTION: they give me two equations 3x+2y=5 and 2x+2y=38, I solved using elimination method and got the points (-33,52). The question asks for the sum of the solutions, but i did not think

Algebra ->  Linear-equations -> SOLUTION: they give me two equations 3x+2y=5 and 2x+2y=38, I solved using elimination method and got the points (-33,52). The question asks for the sum of the solutions, but i did not think      Log On


   

Question 845681: they give me two equations 3x+2y=5 and 2x+2y=38, I solved using elimination method and got the points (-33,52). The question asks for the sum of the solutions, but i did not think that you could add an x and y point, so would there even be a sum of the solutions?
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
First recheck how you did your elimination process. Notice both equations use "2y". Subtract one equation from the other to eliminate terms of y:

%283x%2B2y%29-%282x%2B2y%29=5-38
x=-33, as you seem to have found.
Not trying to eliminate x, 2y=5-3x, y=5%2F2-3x%2F2=%285-3x%29%2F2,
Substituting for x: y=%285-3%28-33%29%29%2F2=%285%2B99%29%2F2=104%2F2=52, again just as you found.

Probably no theoretical meaning for the sum of the solutions of x and y, at least none that seem apparent. Just compute "the sum of the solutions".

highlight%28-33%2B52=19%29

Interesting how the first equation's sum of coefficients give the constant term on the right member, as 3+2=5. It was just (a guess) setup like that. Also see that the second equation is equivalent to x+y=19... but this is exactly what the question asked! The sum of the solution of x and y was found to be 19.