Question

Solve the system of equations.

6x – Зу = 3
-2x + y = 14
1.What number would you multiply the second equation
by in order to eliminate the x-terms when adding to the
first equation?
2.What number would you multiply the first equation by in
order to eliminate the y-terms when adding to the
second equation?

Answer 1

1. Multiply by 3

2. Multiply by 1/3

Explanation:

6x - 3y = 3

-2x + y = -14

1. In order to eliminate the x-terms, they would both have to equal the same number with opposite signs (positive and negative). Since we are only touching the second equation, how can we get from 2 to 6? We can multiply 2 by 3 to get to 6 (negative 6 in the end.) This would result as follows:

6x - 3y = 3

-6x + 3y = 42

2. In order to eliminate the y-terns through multiplying with the first equation, we have to figure out how to make 3y into 1y. We can do this by adding its reciprocal, 1/3. 1/3 × 3 = 1. This would result as follows:

2x - y = 1