Question

Solve for x and y: 3/x -1/y =13/10 1/x + 2/y =9/10

Answer 1

Answer:

  (x, y) = (2, 5)

Step-by-step explanation:

I find it easier to solve equations like this by solving for x' = 1/x and y' = 1/y. The equations then become ...

  3x' -y' = 13/10

  x' +2y' = 9/10

Adding twice the first equation to the second, we get ...

  2(3x' -y') +(x' +2y') = 2(13/10) +(9/10)

  7x' = 35/10 . . . . . . simplify

  x' = 5/10 = 1/2 . . . . divide by 7

Using the first equation to find y', we have ...

  y' = 3x' -13/10 = 3(5/10) -13/10 = 2/10 = 1/5

So, the solution is ...

  x = 1/x' = 1/(1/2) = 2

  y = 1/y' = 1/(1/5) = 5

  (x, y) = (2, 5)

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The attached graph shows the original equations. There are two points of intersection of the curves, one at (0, 0). Of course, both equations are undefined at that point, so each graph will have a "hole" there.