Question 56·Medium·Systems of Two Linear Equations in Two Variables
The ordered pair satisfies the system of equations below.
What is the value of ?
(Express the answer as an integer)
For systems of two linear equations on the SAT, first check if elimination is easy: if one variable’s coefficients are opposites (like and ), add or subtract the equations to eliminate that variable in one step. Solve the resulting one-variable equation, then substitute that value into either original equation to find the other variable. Always re-read the question to be sure you are giving the requested variable ( or ), and if you have time, quickly plug your pair back into both equations to confirm it satisfies the system.
Hints
Notice how the -terms relate
Look at the -terms in both equations. How are and related if you add the two equations together?
Eliminate one variable
Try adding the two equations. What happens to the -terms when you do this, and what new equation in terms of alone do you get?
Back-substitute to find
After you find , plug it into either or and solve the resulting one-step equation for .
Desmos Guide
Enter the equations into Desmos
In Desmos, type each equation on its own line exactly as given: 2x + y = 10 and 3x - y = 5. Desmos will graph both lines.
Locate the intersection point
Look for the point where the two lines cross. Tap or click that intersection; Desmos will display its coordinates in the form (x, y).
Read off the value of
From the intersection coordinates shown by Desmos, note the -value. That -coordinate is the answer to the question.
Step-by-step Explanation
Choose a method to solve the system
You have a system of two linear equations:
Notice that the coefficients of are and . This makes the elimination method very convenient, because adding the equations will cancel out immediately.
Add the two equations to eliminate
Write the equations one above the other and add them term by term:
The and cancel out, leaving a single equation with only.
Solve for
You now have a simple equation:
Divide both sides by :
Now that you know , you can substitute back into one of the original equations to find .
Substitute to find the value of
Use either original equation; for example, use .
Substitute :
So
Subtract from both sides:
Therefore, the value of is .