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  • Jul 28, 2010, 08:13 AM
    sherrywilliams
    I need help!
    I am learning substitutions and eliminations and find this problem hard to solve. Can someone please help me solve the problem.

    x+y=12
    x-y=-6
  • Jul 28, 2010, 09:00 AM
    ebaines

    Here'e the process to use:

    Step 1 - pick one of the equations (it doesn't matter which) and rearrange it to get either x or y by itself on one side of the equals sign (again, it doesn't matter which).

    Step 2 - substitute that value for x or y back into the other equation. This gives the value of one of the unknowns

    Step 3 - then substritute that value into the first equation, to find the valiue of the other unknown.

    Here's an example - not exactly the same as yours, but it should help you understand the process:

    Given:
    x+y = 20
    x-y = -22

    Step 1: rearrange the first equation to get y by itself, by subtracting x from both sides:

    x+y - x = 20 - x
    y = 20 - x

    Step 2: now substitute this value for y into the second equation:

    x - y = -22
    x - (20-x) = -22
    2x - 20 = -22
    2x = -22 + 20
    2x = -2
    x= -1

    Step 3: now use this value of x = -1 in the first equation:

    x + y = 20
    -1 + y = 20
    y = 20+1
    y = 21

    So the answer is: x = -1 and y = 21. Now, can you use this technique to solve your problem? Post back with what you get for an answer.

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