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How do you isolate a variable in an equation containing more than one variable?

User Daniel Lv
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1) Suppose we have the following equation:

3x +y +6 = 2x -2y +4

To isolate both variables, we either add or subtract the other terms in this case, numbers we don't want on the left side.

3x +y +6 = 2x -2y +4 Subtract 6 from both sides

3x +y +6 -6 = 2x -2y +4-6

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

Now, in this case, we're going to subtract 2x and add 2y

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

3x +y -2x +2y = 0 -2

Now let's combine like terms.

x +3y=-2

User Kyle Ledbetter
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