Mathematics
OpenStudy (anonymous):

3x+y=1/3 2x-3y=8/3 solve for x & y

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Do you know how to use the substitution method?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

no

OpenStudy (anonymous):

OK use the first equation and get y by itself... This will be the definition for y that we will substitute into the second equation. I'll show you.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

ok

OpenStudy (anonymous):

$y=-3x +\frac{1}{3}$

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Substituting... $2x + (-3)\big(-3x+\frac{1}{3}\big)=\frac{8}{3}$ Do you see where I substituted the right half of equation #1 for the "y" term in equation 2????

OpenStudy (anonymous):

yes got it so far

OpenStudy (anonymous):

OK can you take it from here? Solve Eqn #2 for x. Then take that number and put in for the "x" in equation #1 to get the number value for "y". Post your answer and I'll check.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

y=-2/3, x=1/3 but not sure if there was an easier way to get 1/3

OpenStudy (anonymous):

let me show you.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

OK (that's the answer I got).

OpenStudy (anonymous):

2x+9x+(-1)=8/3 11x+(-1)=8/3 11x=1 8/3 11x=3 2/3 which then is 3 2/3 divided by 11.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

11/3 divided by 11

OpenStudy (anonymous):

=1/3

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Looking....

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Right... There is no reason to use a mixed fraction on the third line. It looks like you went back to an improper fraction when you cleared the 11 from the left anyway. I always recommended that my students left fractions as improper fractions - much easier to divide by multiplying the inverse of that fraction on both sides.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

so should I have made -1 to be -3/3 ?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Right - I try to keep things as fractions. You'll get pretty good at it and won't need to write the intermediate step. Eg $11x + (-1)=8/3 \Rightarrow11x=8/3+1\Rightarrow11x=\frac{(8+3)}{3}$ etc.... You'll get good enough to skip steps mentally (careful!)

OpenStudy (anonymous):

$\frac{1}{11}*\frac{11x}{1}=\frac{11}{3}*\frac{1}{11}$

OpenStudy (anonymous):

thank you very much! :)

OpenStudy (anonymous):

No problem. Good luck!