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20 votes
20 votes
Writing: A mistake has been made in the solution. Explain the error and how to correct it.

Writing: A mistake has been made in the solution. Explain the error and how to correct-example-1
User Daniel Sumara
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1 Answer

19 votes
19 votes

Answer:

The mistake was made in the second step when going from 3x - 2(3x-4) = 13 to 3x - 6x - 8 = 13.

The mistake was in the multiplication of -2(3x-4). The error is that the negative sign was not distributed to both the 3x and the -4.

-2 times 3x is -6x and -2 times -4 is positive 8

Explanation:

y = 3x - 4

3x - 2y = 13

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

3x - 2(3x - 4) = 13

3x - 6x + 8 = 13

-3x + 8 = 13

-3x = 5

x = -5/3

y = 3(-5/3) - 4

y = -5 - 4

y = -9

Solution: x = -5/3 and y = -9

User Michaeljt
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