How do you solve the system of equations by graphing 8x+5y=3 and 2x+y=21 and then classify the system?

1 Answer
Jun 4, 2018

x=6
y=9

Explanation:

8x+5y=3
2x+y=21

Solving by Substitution

First, we're going to find an equation for the value of a variable to plug it into the other equation in the system. 2x+y=21 looks like it can easily be rearranged to get the equation for the value of y.

2x+y=21

Add 2x to both sides to isolate for the equation for the value of y. You should now have:

y=2x+21

Now that you have the equation for the value of y, you can plug the terms (2x+21) into where y would appear in the other equation of the system. So:

8x+5y=3
8x+5(2x+21)=3

Distribute. What this means is that you'll be multiplying 2x by 5 and 21 by 5. So:

52x=10x
521=105

Re-write the equation:

8x+10x+105=3
Combine like terms (10x+8=18x):

18x+105=3

This is a two-step equation. Subtract 105 from both sides to cancel out 105 in order to get closer to finding the value of x.

18x=108

Divide by 18 to isolate for x:

10818=x

10818=6

x=6

Plug the value of x back into the equation for the value of y to figure out y's value:

y=2x+21
y=2(6)+21
y=12+21
y=9

Plug these values back into the whole system to prove they're right:

8x+5y=3
8(6)+5(9)=3
48+45=3
3=3

2x+y=21
2(6)+9=21
12+9=21
21=21

These are the correct values.