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Can someone help me PLZ! I keep posting the same question and no ones helping me :((((((((((((

Which step could you use to start solving the system of equations below?

x + y = 3
-3x - 2y = -7

Group of answer choices

Multiply -3x - 2y = -7 by 2 and subtract it from x + y = 3

All of the above.

Multiply x + y = 3 by 3 and add it to -3x - 2y = -7

Add x + y = 3 to -3x - 2y = -7

User Dan Hensby
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1 Answer

9 votes

Answer:

Multiply x + y = 3 by 3 and add it to -3x - 2y = -7

Explanation:

When using elimination to solve a system of equations, you multiply one equation by some number. The reason for doing this is that when you add it to the second equation, you want one variable to cancel out. When one variable cancels out (in this case x), you can solve for the other variable (in this case y). I will show this:

3(x + y = 3) = 3x + 3y = 9

3x + 3y = 9

+ -3x + -2y = -7

---------------------------

y = 2

Now, knowing that y = 2, you can substitute y=2 into either equation to solve for x.

-3x - 2(2) = -7

-3x -4 = -7

-3x = -3

x = 1 | to double check (1, 2) as your answer plug these values into both equations

Finding this solution would not have been possible if not for cancelling out the x's above. The other three are wrong because none of the other options cancels out one of the variables.

User Smar
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