Question 29·Medium·Systems of Two Linear Equations in Two Variables
The system of equations is
The solution to the system is . What is the value of ?
When one equation in a system is already solved for a variable (like ), use substitution: plug that expression into the other equation to get a single-variable equation, solve carefully for that variable, then substitute back into the simpler original equation to find the second variable. Always do a quick mental check by plugging your solution into both equations to avoid small sign or arithmetic errors.
Hints
Pick the easier equation
One of the equations already has by itself. Which equation is that, and how can that help you avoid solving a harder equation?
Use substitution
Take the expression for from the simpler equation and plug it into in the other equation. After you do this, you should have an equation with only .
Back-substitute to find y
Once you find the value of , plug it back into the easier equation to compute .
Desmos Guide
Enter both lines
First rewrite the equation in slope-intercept form by dividing both sides by 2: . In Desmos, type the two equations as:
y = (3/2)x + 3y = x - 1
Find the intersection point
Look at the graph where the two lines intersect. Click on that intersection point; Desmos will show its coordinates . The -value of this intersection point is the answer to the question.
Step-by-step Explanation
Choose a method
Notice the second equation is already solved for :
This makes substitution the fastest method: replace in the first equation with the expression .
Substitute into the first equation
Start with the first equation:
Substitute into it:
Now you have an equation in just one variable, .
Solve for x
Simplify and solve the equation from Step 2:
Move all -terms to one side and constants to the other:
So .
Find y using the simpler equation
Use the equation with :
Therefore, the value of is .