Question

Solve the following system of equations. Give the answer as an ordered pair.

4x - y = - 5
3x + 2y = - 12

Answer 1

(x, y ) = (- 2, - 3 )

given the 2 equations

4x - y = - 5 → (1)

3x + 2y = - 12 → (2)

eliminate the term in y by multiplying (1) by 2 and then adding

8x - 2y = - 10 → (3)

add (2) and (3) term by term to eliminate y

(3x + 8x ) + (2y - 2y) = (- 12 - 10 )

11x = - 22 ( divide both sides by 11 )

x = - 2

substitute x = - 2 in either (1) or (2) and solve for y

(2) : - 6 + 2y = - 12 ( add 6 to both sides )

2y = - 6 ( divide both sides by 2 )

y = - 3

solution is (- 2, - 3 )