Final answer:
To find the value of a that makes the point (3, a) lie on the line 2x - 3y = 5, substitute the x-coordinate into the equation and solve for a. The value of a is 1/3, so the point (3, 1/3) lies on the line.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the value of a that makes the point (3, a) lie on the line 2x - 3y = 5, we need to substitute the x-coordinate (3) into the equation and solve for a.
First, we substitute x = 3 into the equation:
2(3) - 3y = 5
6 - 3y = 5
Next, we isolate the a term by subtracting 6 from both sides:
-3y = -1
Finally, we solve for y by dividing both sides by -3:
y = -1/-3
Simplifying:
y = 1/3
Therefore, the value of a is 1/3. So, the point (3, 1/3) lies on the line 2x - 3y = 5.