Expert: Steve Holleran - 9/30/2007

Question
how would u solve this by elimination? let / equal fraction

x/5+y/3=3 and x/2-y-12=2

Answer
Hi Brandon,

I think there's a typo here;  I'm going to assume that the second equation is x/2 - y/12 = 2.  (It came through as x/2 - y-12 = 2).

First, let's get rid of all the fractions:

          x/5 + y/3 = 3          Multiply through by 15

          3x + 5y = 45

Then     x/2 - y/12 = 2         Multiply through by 12

         6x - y = 24

Now multiply this equation by 5 and add it to the first one:

         30x - 5y = 120
          3x + 5y = 45

         33x  = 165    so x = 5 , and 6(5) - y = 24

so        30 - y = 24   and y = 6.

Hope this is the correct equation and that this helps out.
Steve