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1 vote
If a + 4b = 33 and 6a + 3b = 51, what is the value of a + b?

(I got 5 but it was wrong)

2 Answers

1 vote

Answer:

12

Explanation:

Since the problem asks for $a+b$, we look for a way to isolate $a+b$ from the given equations.

Notice that $a + 6a = 7a$ and $4b + 3b = 7b$. This gives us the key to isolating $a + b$. We simply add the two equations together:\begin{align*}

7a + 7b &= 84 \\

7(a + b) &= 84 \\

a + b &= \frac{84}{7} \\

a + b &= \boxed{12}

\end{align*}

User Amadou Beye
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5 votes
b = 7, a = 5. So a + b is 13.
User ABrowne
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6.2k points