Question

HELP WILL FAN AND GOLD VERY HARD
three times a first number minus a second number equals negative forty. The first number plus twice the second number equals negative four

a.Define variables and formulate a system of linear equations from this situation.

b.What are the numbers

Answer 1

3n-m=-40
n+2m = -4
does this look right so far?

Answer 2

hmm, i'm pretty sure

Answer 3

3 times a number (3n) minus a second number(m) = -40

Answer 4

can you solve for n on the second equation i gave you and tell me what it equals?

Answer 5

n=-2?

Answer 6

n+2m = -4
can you walk me through how you got n=-2?

Answer 7

HONESTLY I'M SO CONFUSED LOL can you you walk me through how to get n?

Answer 8

get n alone!
n+2m = -4
subtract 2m from both sides!

Answer 9

so... n =?

Answer 10

n=-4-2m

Answer 11

ok! good. now that we know this, lets go back to our first equation
3n-m = -40. can you guess what we do from here or do you need a clue?

Answer 12

we plug in n?

Answer 13

wooohoo!

Answer 14

so 3(-4-2m)=-40m ??

Answer 15

we have 3(n)- m = -40
put everything that n = inside those parentheses.
3(-4-2m) - m = -40

Answer 16

and we distribute the 3?

Answer 17

we do, and then we solve for m. once we have m we plug that in to one of the two equations we came up with and find n and we are finished!