Big Ideas Math: Modeling Real Life, Grade 8
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Big Ideas Math: Modeling Real Life, Grade 8 View details
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Exercise 3 Page 230

The Elimination Method can be used to solve a system of linear equations if either of the variable terms would cancel out the corresponding variable term in the other equation when added together.

(6,6)

To solve a system of linear equations using the Elimination Method, one of the variable terms needs to be eliminated when one equation is added to or subtracted from the other. This means that either the x- or the y-terms must cancel each other out. x+ y=12 & (I) 3 x= 2 y+6 & (II) Currently, none of the terms in this system will cancel out. Therefore, we need to find a common multiple between two variable like terms in the system. If we multiply Equation (I) by - 3, the x-terms will have opposite coefficients. -3( x+ y)=- 3(12) & (I) 3 x= 2 y+6 & (II) ⇓ -3 x-3 y=- 36 & (I) 3 x= 2 y+6 & (II)We can see that the y-terms will eliminate each other if we add Equation (I) to Equation (II).
-3 x-3 y=- 36 & (I) 3 x= 2 y+6 & (II)
-3 x-3 y=- 36 3 x-3 x-3 y= 2 y+6-36
(II):Solve for y
-3 x-3 y=- 36 - 3 y= 2 y-30
-3 x-3 y=- 36 - 5 y= - 30
-3 x-3 y=- 36 y= 6
Now we can solve for x by substituting the value of y into either equation and simplifying.
-3 x-3 y=- 36 y= 6
-3 x-3( 6)=- 36 y= 6
(I):Solve for x
-3 x-18=- 36 y= 6
-3 x=- 18 y= 6
x=6 y= 6
The solution, or point of intersection, of the system of equations is (6,6).