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| Question 391551:  I'm trying to help my niece with her homework and I can't remember at all how to solve this problem.
 She's trying to solve this linear equation or system. She says she's supposed to get the answer by using the 3y?
 2x-3y=-7 (negative 7)
 3x+y=-5 (negative 5)
 I have the answer for her but would really like to know how to solve this and to show her the correct way.
 Thank you!
 Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! 2x - 3y = -7 3x +  y = -5
 They probably want you to use elimination, by multiplying the 2nd equation by
 3 and adding the two equations, you will eliminate y and easily can find x
 :
 2x - 3y = -7
 9x + 3y = -15 (multiplied by 3)
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 11x + 0 = -22
 Divide both sides by 11, and you have
 x = -2
 :
 You can now find y by substituting -2 for x in the 2nd equation
 3(-2) + y = -5
 -6 + y = -5
 Add 6 to both sides
 y = -5 + 6
 y = +1
 :
 Check your solutions by substitution in the 1st equation
 2x - 3y = -7
 2(-2) - 3(1) = -7
 -4 - 3 = -7; confirms our solutions of x = -2, y = 1
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