Choose the equations below that represent correct steps in solving this system of equations using substitution.

x + 3y = 9
y = x - 5

x + 3 (x-5) = 9
(x-5) + 3y = 9
2x + 4y = 9 - 5
x + 3x - 15 = 9
4x - 15 = 9

1 answer

To use substitution to solve the system of equations given:

  1. Original System: \[ x + 3y = 9 \tag{1} \] \[ y = x - 5 \tag{2} \]

  2. Substitute \(y\) from equation (2) into equation (1):

    • Start with equation (1): \(x + 3y = 9\)
    • Substitute \(y = x - 5\):

    \[ x + 3(x - 5) = 9 \]

  3. This gives us the correct first step in trying to eliminate \(y\): \[ x + 3(x - 5) = 9 \]

  4. Let's check the other equations presented:

  • \((x - 5) + 3y = 9\) is not correct because it seems to substitute \(y\) as \(y = (x - 5)\) which doesn't apply correctly in this instance.

  • \(2x + 4y = 9 - 5\) makes no sense in this context, as it does not correctly rearrange or simplify from our substitutions.

  • \(x + 3x - 15 = 9\) can be derived from our valid substitution (since \(3(x - 5) = 3x - 15\)), and is an appropriate equation.

  • \(4x - 15 = 9\) is correct but derived from the preceding equation \(x + 3x - 15 = 9\).

Valid Steps:

  1. \(x + 3(x-5) = 9\)
  2. From \(x + 3(x - 5) = 9\), you then could simplify to \(4x - 15 = 9\).

Thus, the correct choices for the steps in solving the system with substitution are:

  1. \(x + 3(x - 5) = 9\)
  2. \(x + 3x - 15 = 9\)
  3. \(4x - 15 = 9\)