Could someone please help me.

Solve the linear equation by substitution.

Y=10-2.2x
5x+y=70
For the first equation I am getting x=21.4 and for the second equation I am getting y=-37. The answers are 21 3/7 and -37 1/7. Could you show me how you do this so I can see where I went wrong in my steps! Thank you

2 answers

The first equation has y=10-2.2x

Substituting that value for y into the second equation:

5x + (10-2.2x)=70
5x + 10-2.2x=70

combining...
2.8x=60
x=?

Plug that value for x into the first equation to find y.
Cherie,
You are using decimals and rounding off your answer before you are substituting.

look at Quidditch's last line

2.8x = 60
x = 60/2.8 = 600/28 = 150/7 or 21 3/7

now y = 10 - 2.2(150/7)
= 10 - (22/10)(150/7)
= 10 - 330/7
= -260/7 or -37 1/7

since "anything"/7 is a repeating decimal, you will never get the "exact" answer by using decimals, you have to keep working in fractions