Question

How to set up a system of equations

Answer 1

To set up your system of equations is to have 2 equations. They both would have 1 similar variable. For example, Jenny is 5 more her brother's age. She is also 2 more than twice her brother's age. You would set this up as Y, which is Jenny, and X, her brother. Y = 5 + x and Y = 2x + 2. Make sure you put Y in the same spot in both equations. Then take the other half of the equations and simplify them. 5 + x = 2x + 2. Subtract x from both sides to get 5 = x + 2. Subtract 2 from both sides to get 3 = x. Now replace the X from both equations to get Y = 5+3, and Y = 2(3) + 2. You will see both add up to 8, which is how old Jenny is in this example. Hope this helped!