how to solve problem step by step

Question

3x-y=-8

5x+2y=5

Answer 1

The first formula is the easiest to simplify.

 

3x - y = -8

Solve for y by adding y and -8 on both sides, simplifying the equation of y in terms of x:

y = 3x + 8

 

Plug this into the second equation:

 

5x + 2y = 5
5x + 2(3x + 8) = 5

5x + 6x + 16 = 5

11x = -11

x = -1

Solve for y by plugging in x to the first simplified equation:

y = 3x + 8

 

With x = -1:

y = 3(-1) + 8

y = -3 + 8

y = 5

So, you have determined that x = -1, and y = 5.  If you want, you can check this by entering the values into either of the original equations.

3x - y = -8
3(-1) - 5 = -8
-3 - 5 = -8
-8 = -8          CORRECT!

Hope that helped.