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{ 2 x + 9 y = −4 3 x + 13 y = −7

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{ 1 3 x y = −3 x + 5 2 y = 2

( −3 , 2 )

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{ x + 1 2 y = 3 2 1 5 x 1 5 y = 3

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{ x + 1 3 y = −1 1 2 x 1 3 y = −2

( −2 , 3 )

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{ 1 3 x y = −3 2 3 x + 5 2 y = 3

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{ 2 x + y = 3 6 x + 3 y = 9

infinitely many solutions

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{ x 4 y = −1 −3 x + 12 y = 3

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{ −3 x y = 8 6 x + 2 y = −16

infinitely many solutions

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{ 4 x + 3 y = 2 20 x + 15 y = 10

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{ 3 x + 2 y = 6 −6 x 4 y = −12

infinitely many solutions

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{ 5 x 8 y = 12 10 x 16 y = 20

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{ −11 x + 12 y = 60 −22 x + 24 y = 90

inconsistent, no solution

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{ 7 x 9 y = 16 −21 x + 27 y = −24

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{ 5 x 3 y = 15 y = 5 3 x 2

inconsistent, no solution

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{ 2 x + 4 y = 7 y = 1 2 x 4

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Solve Applications of Systems of Equations by Elimination

In the following exercises, translate to a system of equations and solve.

The sum of two numbers is 65. Their difference is 25. Find the numbers.

The numbers are 20 and 45.

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The sum of two numbers is 37. Their difference is 9. Find the numbers.

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The sum of two numbers is −27. Their difference is −59. Find the numbers.

The numbers are 16 and −43.

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The sum of two numbers is −45. Their difference is −89. Find the numbers.

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Andrea is buying some new shirts and sweaters. She is able to buy 3 shirts and 2 sweaters for $114 or she is able to buy 2 shirts and 4 sweaters for $164. How much does a shirt cost? How much does a sweater cost?

A shirt costs $16 and a sweater costs $33.

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Peter is buying office supplies. He is able to buy 3 packages of paper and 4 staplers for $40 or he is able to buy 5 packages of paper and 6 staplers for $62. How much does a package of paper cost? How much does a stapler cost?

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The total amount of sodium in 2 hot dogs and 3 cups of cottage cheese is 4720 mg. The total amount of sodium in 5 hot dogs and 2 cups of cottage cheese is 6300 mg. How much sodium is in a hot dog? How much sodium is in a cup of cottage cheese?

There are 860 mg in a hot dog. There are 1,000 mg in a cup of cottage cheese.

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The total number of calories in 2 hot dogs and 3 cups of cottage cheese is 960 calories. The total number of calories in 5 hot dogs and 2 cups of cottage cheese is 1190 calories. How many calories are in a hot dog? How many calories are in a cup of cottage cheese?

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Choose the Most Convenient Method to Solve a System of Linear Equations

In the following exercises, decide whether it would be more convenient to solve the system of equations by substitution or elimination.


{ 8 x 15 y = −32 6 x + 3 y = −5
{ x = 4 y 3 4 x 2 y = −6

elimination substitution

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{ y = 7 x 5 3 x 2 y = 16
{ 12 x 5 y = −42 3 x + 7 y = −15

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{ y = 4 x + 9 5 x 2 y = −21
{ 9 x 4 y = 24 3 x + 5 y = −14

substitution elimination

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{ 14 x 15 y = −30 7 x + 2 y = 10
{ x = 9 y 11 2 x 7 y = −27

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Everyday math

Norris can row 3 miles upstream against the current in the same amount of time it takes him to row 5 miles downstream, with the current. Solve the system. { r c = 3 r + c = 5

  1. for r , his rowing speed in still water.
  2. Then solve for c , the speed of the river current.

r = 4 c = 1

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Josie wants to make 10 pounds of trail mix using nuts and raisins, and she wants the total cost of the trail mix to be $54. Nuts cost $6 per pound and raisins cost $3 per pound. Solve the system { n + r = 10 6 n + 3 r = 54 to find n , the number of pounds of nuts, and r , the number of pounds of raisins she should use.

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Writing exercises

Solve the system
{ x + y = 10 5 x + 8 y = 56

by substitution
by graphing
Which method do you prefer? Why?

  1. (8, 2)

  2. This image is a graph that shows the solution to the system “x plus y equals 10” and 5x plus 8y equals 56. The solution is on an x, y coordinate plane. Two arrows intersect at points 8 and 2.
  3. Answers will vary.
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Solve the system
{ x + y = −12 y = 4 1 2 x

by substitution
by graphing
Which method do you prefer? Why?

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Self check

After completing the exercises, use this checklist to evaluate your mastery of the objectives of this section.

This figure shows a table with four rows and four columns. The columns are labeled, “I can…,” “Confidently.” “With some help.” and “No - I don’t get it.” The only column with filled in cells below it is labeled “I can…” It reads, “solve a system of equations by elimination.” “solve applications of systems of equations by elimination.” and “choose the most convenient method to solve a system of linear equations.”

What does this checklist tell you about your mastery of this section? What steps will you take to improve?

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Source:  OpenStax, Elementary algebra. OpenStax CNX. Jan 18, 2017 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col12116/1.2
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