Chapter 12: Problem 50
Solve each system by elimination (addition). $$ \left\\{\begin{array}{l} \frac{1}{3} x+\frac{1}{2} y=\frac{31}{6} \\ 0.3 x+0.2 y=3.9 \end{array}\right. $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The solution is \(x = 11\), \(y = 3\).
Step by step solution
01
Eliminate Fractions and Decimals
First, eliminate fractions and decimals to simplify calculations. Multiply the first equation by 6 to remove fractions:\[2x + 3y = 31\]For the second equation, multiply through by 10 to remove decimals:\[3x + 2y = 39\]This gives us the equivalent system:\[\begin{align*}2x + 3y &= 31 \3x + 2y &= 39\end{align*}\]
02
Prepare for Elimination by Equalizing Coefficients
To eliminate one of the variables, we need their coefficients in both equations to be opposites. We'll eliminate \(y\). Multiply the first equation by 2:\[4x + 6y = 62\]And the second equation by 3:\[9x + 6y = 117\]Our system is now:\[\begin{align*}4x + 6y &= 62 \9x + 6y &= 117\end{align*}\]
03
Eliminate One Variable
Subtract the first equation from the second to eliminate \(y\):\[(9x + 6y) - (4x + 6y) = 117 - 62\]This simplifies to:\[5x = 55\]Now, solve for \(x\):\[x = 11\]
04
Solve for the Second Variable
Substitute \(x = 11\) back into the first original equation:\[2(11) + 3y = 31\]Calculate:\[22 + 3y = 31\]Subtract 22 from both sides:\[3y = 9\]Divide by 3:\[y = 3\]
05
Solution Verification
Substitute \(x = 11\) and \(y = 3\) into the second original equation to verify:\[3(11) + 2(3) = 39\]Calculate:\[33 + 6 = 39\]The solution is verified as correct.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Elimination Method
The elimination method is a technique used to solve systems of linear equations. The goal is to eliminate one of the variables so that you can easily solve for the other. Here's how it works:
- Start with your system of equations, which might look like this:\[ \left\{\begin{array}{l} \frac{1}{3} x+\frac{1}{2} y=\frac{31}{6} \ 0.3 x+0.2 y=3.9 \end{array}\right.\]
- First, adjust the equations to eliminate fractions and decimals. This makes the arithmetic simpler.
- Next, make the coefficients of one variable equal in both equations. This may require multiplying one or both equations by certain numbers.
- Subtract or add the equations to eliminate that variable. You will be left with a single equation that you can solve easily.
- Substitute the found value back into one of the original equations to find the second variable.
Fractions and Decimals
Fractions and decimals often appear in linear equations, especially in real-world problems. Before using an elimination method, it often helps to first eliminate these fractions and decimals from the equations. This simplification makes further calculations more straightforward.
- Fractions: Multiply every term in the equation by the least common multiple (LCM) of the denominators. This removes the fractions by converting them into whole numbers. For example: \[\frac{1}{3}x + \frac{1}{2}y = \frac{31}{6} \rightarrow 2x + 3y = 31\]
- Decimals: Treat decimals by multiplying the entire equation by powers of 10. This transforms the equation into one without decimals. For instance: \[0.3x + 0.2y = 3.9 \rightarrow 3x + 2y = 39\]
Solving Linear Equations
Once the system is set, solving linear equations with the elimination method becomes easier. Here's the process:
- After eliminating fractions and decimals, establish a set of linear equations that are easier to manage:
- The modified system might look like: \[ \begin{align*} 2x + 3y &= 31\ 3x + 2y &= 39 \end{align*} \]
- With these equations, adjust them by multiplying each to align coefficients for elimination. For instance, to eliminate \(y\), you might adjust as follows: \[4x + 6y = 62, \quad 9x + 6y = 117\]
- Subtract the two equations to eliminate one variable: \[\begin{align*} 9x + 6y - (4x + 6y) &= 117 - 62\ 5x &= 55 \end{align*}\]
- You can now solve for the variable \(x\): \[x = 11\]
- Substitute \(x\) back into one of the simplified equations to solve for \(y\): \[2(11) + 3y = 31 \rightarrow 3y = 9 \rightarrow y = 3\]
- Verify the solution by checking whether the values satisfy the original equations. This ensures the calculation was correct.