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Which variable should you substitute for in the equation 3x + 2y = 16? Explain your choice.

User Cdalitz
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Final answer:

To solve the equation 3x + 2y = 16, one would typically substitute for the independent variable x if given or chosen, then solve for the dependent variable y. The rearranged equation y = (16 - 3x)/2 can then be used to find y for a given x.

Step-by-step explanation:

When solving the equation 3x + 2y = 16, the choice of which variable to substitute for can depend on the context of the problem. In a situation where the values of x (the independent variable) are chosen or provided, you would substitute those into the equation and solve for y (the dependent variable). Conversely, if you have a specific y value, you could substitute that and solve for x.

Generally, in a linear equation, substituting and solving for the dependent variable is the standard approach when looking for a functional relationship between variables. For example, if you are given x values, you could substitute each into the equation to find the corresponding y values. Specifically, if we want to solve for y, we would rearrange the equation to y = (16 - 3x)/2 and then substitute the chosen values for x.

User Sachin
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