How do you solve 2x - y = 32xy=3 and 3x - y = 43xy=4 using substitution?

1 Answer
May 1, 2016

An alternative method of solving them.
x = 1 and y = -1x=1andy=1

Explanation:

Both of these equations contain the single variable yy.
Transpose them to make yy the subject.

y = 3x - 4y=3x4 ....... and ....... y = 2x - 3y=2x3

Now, because y = yy=y, it follows that

.................3x - 4 = 2x - 33x4=2x3 (giving an equation with one variable)

Solving it gives: x = 1x=1

There are now two ways to calculate the value of yy

y = 3(1) -4y=3(1)4 = -1 and y = 2(1) - 3y=2(1)3 = -1