Solving Using Elimination
Elimination
Example 2
Solve the system.
7x + 4y = 12
5x - 2y = 11
Step 1. Pretend the two equations create columns to add down and see if either variable will cancel.
Since neither variable will cancel automatically, move on to the next step.
Step 2. Determine which variable will cancel, then multiply one equation so that the variable will cancel.
In this equation the 2 "y" variables have an easy GCF and would cancel if their coefficients were 4, -4. Therefore, multiply the second equation by 2.
2(5x - 2y = 11)
10x - 4y = 22
Step 3. Add down the "columns".
