SOLUTION: Determine whether each system of linear equation has one and only one sol. Infinite many or no sol. 3/2x-2y=4 and x+1/3y=2 couldu help me with this problem I am lost

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Question 709430: Determine whether each system of linear equation has one and only one sol. Infinite many or no sol.
3/2x-2y=4 and x+1/3y=2 couldu help me with this problem I am lost

Answer by KMST(5328) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Because that system has fractional coefficients,
my first step would be to "eliminate denominators" in each equation,
by multiplying both sides of the equal sign times an appropriate number.
I would multiply times 2 for the first equation
and times 3 for the second equation
to transform the whole system into one that is easier for me.
system%28%283%2F2%29%2Ax-2y=4%2Cx%2B%281%2F3%29%2Ay=2%29 --> system%283x-4y=8%2C3x%2By=6%29

That system has one and only one solution.
Why? Because the ratios of coefficients of x and y are different.
Let me explain by example

Obviously system%283x%2By=6%2C3x%2By=6%29 has many solutions
because both equations are the same,
and 3x%2By=6%29 represents one line
with an infinite number of (x,y) points that are solutions to that equation
and solutions to the system.
That system could appear "in disguise" and it would not be so obvious, as in
system%28%283%2F2%29x%2B%281%2F2%29y=3%2Cx%2B%281%2F3%29y=2%29 or system%286x%2B2y=12%2C3x%2By=6%29
All those equations are equivalent, because one can be obtained from another one
by multiplying both sides of the equal sign times an appropriate number.

On the other hand, the system system%283x%2By=6%2C3x%2By=5%29
obviously has no solutions.
It could also be disguised to make it not so obvious.

Once your system was transformed into system%283x-4y=8%2C3x%2By=6%29
It was clear that it did not fit into the no-solution or infinite-solutions situations described above,
because both equations had 3 as the coefficient for x but had different coefficients for y.

The infinite number (x,y) data pairs that are solutions to 3x%2By=6
represent the points in the straight line that is the graph of 3x%2By=6
The infinite number (x,y) data pairs that are solutions to 3x-4y=8
represent the points in the straight line that is the graph of 3x-4y=8
The two lines intersect at just one common point,
and the coordinates of that point constitute the solution to the system system%283x-4y=8%2C3x%2By=6%29 .
In this case, that point is (32/15, -2/5) and the solution to the system is
highlight%28x=32%2F15%29, highlight%28y=-2%2F5%29