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A student is trying to solve the system of two equations given below:

Equation P: x + y = 8
Equation Q: 2x + 5y = 24

Which of the following steps can be used to eliminate the x term?

2(x + y = 8)
−2(x + y = 8)
−1(2x + 5y = 24)
−2(2x + 5y = 24)

User Huiwei
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1 Answer

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Answer:

Explanation:

To eliminate the x term in the system of equations, you can multiply Equation P by a constant and then add or subtract it from Equation Q. Let's go through the given steps:

2(x + y = 8):

This step is incorrect because it only multiplies the entire Equation P by 2 without changing the other equation. It does not eliminate the x term.

-2(x + y = 8):

This step is incorrect because it multiplies Equation P by -2, but the equation should be subtracted from Equation Q, not multiplied by -2.

-1(2x + 5y = 24):

This step is incorrect because it only multiplies Equation Q by -1 without changing Equation P. It does not eliminate the x term.

-2(2x + 5y = 24):

This step is correct. By multiplying Equation Q by -2 and then adding it to Equation P, the x term will be eliminated. The resulting equation will involve only the y term, allowing you to solve for y.

Therefore, the correct step to eliminate the x term is -2(2x + 5y = 24).

To prove that the step -2(2x + 5y = 24) eliminates the x term in the system of equations, we need to show that when we perform the elimination, the resulting equation involves only the y term.

Given the system of equations:

Equation P: x + y = 8

Equation Q: 2x + 5y = 24

Multiplying Equation Q by -2:

-2(2x + 5y) = -2(24)

-4x - 10y = -48

Now, let's add Equation P and the modified Equation Q:

(x + y) + (-4x - 10y) = 8 + (-48)

Simplifying the left side of the equation:

x - 4x + y - 10y = 8 - 48

-3x - 9y = -40

As we can see, the resulting equation -3x - 9y = -40 involves only the y term. The x term has been eliminated.

Therefore, by performing the step -2(2x + 5y = 24), we have successfully eliminated the x term in the system of equations.

User Katie Kilian
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