Math Word Problems Demystified - A Self Teaching Guide

 36 þ 12 yþ 5 y¼
 2

 36 þ 17 y¼
 2

 36 þ 36 þ 17 y¼
 2 þ 36

17 y¼ 34

171 y

171

¼

34

17

y¼ 2

Findx:

xþ 3 y¼ 9

xþ 2 ð 3 Þ¼ 9

xþ 6 ¼ 9

xþ 6 
 6 ¼ 9 
 6

x¼ 3

3. Solve the second equation fory.

2 xþy¼ 13

2 x
 2 xþy¼ 13 
 2 x

y¼ 13 
 2 x

Substitute in the first equation and solve forx.

4 x
 3 y¼ 1

4 x
 3 ð 13 
 2 xÞ¼ 1

4 x
 39 þ 6 x¼ 1

10 x
 39 ¼ 1

10 x
 39 þ 39 ¼ 1 þ 39

10 x¼ 40

204 REFRESHER V Systems of Equations