Given the system of equations below:


3x - 2y = 10

x + 3y = 18

Part 1: Using the elimination method, describe the steps you would take to solve the system by eliminating the x-terms.

1 answer

To solve the system of equations using the elimination method by eliminating the x-terms, follow these steps:

Step 1: Multiply both sides of the first equation by 3 and the second equation by 2 to make the coefficients of x in both equations equal:
3(3x - 2y) = 3(10) => 9x - 6y = 30
2(x + 3y) = 2(18) => 2x + 6y = 36

Step 2: Add the two resulting equations together to eliminate the x-terms:
9x - 6y + 2x + 6y = 30 + 36
11x = 66

Step 3: Solve for x:
x = 66 / 11
x = 6

Step 4: Substitute the value of x back into one of the original equations to solve for y:
x + 3y = 18
6 + 3y = 18
3y = 12
y = 4

Therefore, the solution to the system of equations is x = 6 and y = 4.