How do you solve the system 2x+y=-92x+y=9 and 3x+y=113x+y=11?

1 Answer
May 24, 2015

Noticing the same term in yy in both equations, we can eliminate yy quickly as follows:

Subtract the first equation from the second to get:

x = (3x+y)-(2x+y) = 11 - (-9) = 20x=(3x+y)(2x+y)=11(9)=20

Substitute this value of xx into the first equation to get:

-9 = (2xx20)+y = 40+y9=(2×20)+y=40+y

Subtract 4040 from both sides to get:

y = -9 -40 = -49y=940=49

As a quick check, substitute these values for xx and yy into the left hand side of the second equation:

3x+y = (3xx20)+(-49) =60-49 = 113x+y=(3×20)+(49)=6049=11