| 
 
 
 
Question 638214:  Solving System of Linear Equations by Elimination. My math this week shows an example and I do not understand where the answer comes from. I will provide the example and show where I got lost.  
 2a + 3b = 25 
-2a + b = 11
 
I understand this section  
 2a + 3b = 25 
-2a +  b = 11 
-------------- 
      4b = 36 
     ___  ___ 
      4    4    = b=9
 
2a + 3(9)= 25 <----- this is where my confusion is: the answer it shows it as -1 BUT HOW DID IT GET THIS ANSWER?
 
I get the fact that it is a point, I see that the answer is (-1,9) but I do not know how to get the -1, I do know where the 9 came from but not the -1.  
I hope this is example enough for help. I have similar questions that I have due but I cannot find out the correct answer if I am missing this one step. 
 
 
I did one with out the example and came to the same problem of finding one point  but not the other. I got it wrong because of that one missing part. I will also show what I did.
 
6a + 5b = 17 
-6a + b = 25
 
 
6a + 5b = 17 
-6a + b = 25 
_____________ 
      6b = 42 
      ___  ___ 
       6    6    which is b = 7
 
6a + 5(7)=17.....AGAIN I AM STUCK! the correct answer was -3 but I do not see how? 
 
 
Also is there a easier way of doing this math? 
 Found 2 solutions by  reviewermath, richwmiller: Answer by reviewermath(1029)      (Show Source):  Answer by richwmiller(17219)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! second system 
b = 7  
now get a which is -3
 
6,5,17 
-6,1,25
 
divide row 1 by 6/1 
1,5/6,17/6 
-6,1,25
 
add  down (6/1) *row 1 to row 2 
1,5/6,17/6 
0,6,42
 
divide row 2 by 6/1 
1,5/6,17/6 
0,1,7
 
We now have the value for the last variable. 
We will work our way up and get the other solutions.
 
add up  (-5/6) *row 2 to row 1 
1,0,-3 
0,1,7
 
final 
1,0,-3 
0,1,7
 
1,0,-3 
0,1,7
 
 
  | 
 
  
 
 |   
 
 |   
 |  |