How do you solve the following system using substitution?: 2x2y=12,1x+5y=34

1 Answer
Feb 8, 2016

You will have to solve for one of the variables. I prefer to do y, so that's how I'll show it to you.

Explanation:

1x+5y=34

Put on equal denominators:

1(4y)x(4y)+5(4x)y(4x)=3(xy)4(xy)

We can now eliminate the denominators because we're on equal denominators.

4y+20x=3xy

Solving for y:

4y3xy=20x

Factor out y:

y(43x)=20x

y=20x43x

Substitute 20x43x for y in the other equation

2x220x43x=12

Once placed on a common denominator of 40x243x:

80x43x4x=20x243x

Now, we must place the -4x on the new common denominator of 4 - 3x.

80x43x4x(43x)43x=20x243x

Eliminating the denominators, we get the quadratic equation 80x16x+12x2=20x2

32x296x = 0

32x(x3)=0

x = 0 and x = 3

x = 0 cannot be a solution since division by 0 is non defined.

Solving the equation to find y:

13+5y=34

4y12y+6012y=9y12y

4y9y=60

5y=60

y=12

So, the solution set is (3, -12)