Answer:
a = 5 1/3
Step-by-step explanation:
a+b+b = 24
a + 2b = 24
b-a =4
a = b - 4
b - 4 + 2b = 24
3b = 24 + 4
b =28/3
substitute this in a = b - 4
a = 28/3 - 4
a = 28/3 - 12/3
a = 16/3
a = 5 1/3
There's some unknown (but derivable) system of equations being modeled by the two lines in the given graph. (But we don't care what equations make up these lines.)
There's no solution to this particular system because the two lines are parallel.
How do we know they're parallel? Parallel lines have the same slope, and we can easily calculate the slope of these lines.
The line on the left passes through the points (-1, 0) and (0, -2), so it has slope
(-2 - 0)/(0 - (-1)) = -2/1 = -2
The line on the right passes through (0, 2) and (1, 0), so its slope is
(0 - 2)/(1 - 0) = -2/1 = -2
The slopes are equal, so the lines are parallel.
Why does this mean there is no solution? Graphically, a solution to the system is represented by an intersection of the lines. Parallel lines never intersect, so there is no solution.
