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Shay2
Dec 6, 2007, 12:13 PM
DOES ANY1 KNO HOW 2 DO THIS PROBLEM:
{2M=-4N-14}
{3M+5N=-3}
AND CAN U EXPLAIN IT to me .

ebaines
Dec 7, 2007, 11:45 AM
There are basically three steps to solving these problems:

1. Rearrange one of the equations so that you get one of the unknowns all by itself on the left side of the equals sign. Let's call that the first unknown - in your problem that would be M.
2. Then substitute that value into the 2nd equation, which gives you now one equation in one unknown, which you can solve. This gives you the value of the 2nd unknown, here N.
3. Then substitute the value of the 2nd unknown back into the 1st equation, and solve for the 1st unknown.

In your example, here are the steps:

1. Look at the first equation - it's almost set up the way you need it, with M all by itself on the left. Divide through by 2 and you get: M = -2N-7

2. Substitute that value for M into the 2nd equation, and you get: 3(-2N-7) +5N = -3.
See how you now have just one equation in one unknown? You can now solve for N.

3. Once you have a value for N, use it back in the first equation, and you can determine M.

Hope this helps.