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| Question 282267:  I need help solving a linear system problem using linear comblinations.  The problem is 7x-4y=-3 and 2x+5y=-7.  I got (1,1), but when I use them they don't work right.  First I multiplied 5(7x-4y)=5(-3), 35y-20y=-15, 43y=43, y-1.
 The next part I multiplied 2(2x+5y)=2(-7), 14x-8y=-6, -14x-35y=49, 43y=43, y=1.
 I'm not sure where I need to go with all of this.  Please help me.
 Found 2 solutions by  nyc_function, richwmiller:
 Answer by nyc_function(2741)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! 7x-4y=-3...Equation A 2x+5y=-7...Equation B
 7x - 4y = -3
 -4y = -7x - 3
 y = (7/4)x + 3/4
 Plug this into Equation B to find x.
 2x + 5((7/4)x + 3/4) = -7
 2x + (35/4)x + 15/4 = -7
 2x(4) + 4[(35/4)x + 15/4] = -7(4)
 8x + 35x + 3 = -28
 43x = -28 - 3
 43x = -31
 x = -31/43
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 Now, plug this value for x into either equations above to find y.
 I will use Equation A but you can also use B.
 7(-31/43) - 4y = -3
 -217/43 - 4y = -3
 -4y = -3 + 217/43
 y = (-3 + 217/43)/-4
 y = -22/43
 SOLUTION POINT: (-31/43, -22/43)....This is the answer.
 The point (1,1) is not the answer.
 
 
 
Answer by richwmiller(17219)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! the other tutor showed you the right wayn tosolve it. Let's see where you went wrong.
 5(7x-4y)=5(-3)
 35y-20y=-15,
 This is where you went wrong. It  should be
 35x-20y=-15
 You changed x to y
 Now for the other equation
 2(2x+5y)=2(-7)
 should be
 4x+10y-14
 not sure where you got this
 14x-8y=-6
 or this
 -14x-35y=49
 I also don't see what you were trying to do by multiplying the first by 5 and the second by 2. I can see multiplying the first by 5 and the second by 4 to remove the y term -20y and +20y
 
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