How do you solve the following system?: x + 2y = -2 , y=2x+9

1 Answer
Mar 18, 2018

Substitution Property

x=-4 and y =1

Explanation:

If x = a value, then x will equal that same value no matter where it is or what it's being multiplied by.

Allow me to explain.

x + 2y = -2

y = 2x + 9

Replacing y=2x+9

x + 2(2x + 9) = -2

Distribute:

x + 4x + 18 = -2

Simplify:

5x = -20

x = -4

Since we know what x is equal to, we can now solve for the y value using this same philosophy.

x = -4

x + 2y = -2

(-4) + 2y = -2

Simplify

2y = 2

y = 1

x = -4, y = 1

Also, just as a general rule of thumb, if you're unsure of your answers in any system of equations like this, you can check your answers by plugging both x and y into both equations and seeing if a valid input is spit out. Like so:

x + 2y = -2

y = 2x + 9

(-4) + 2(1) = -2

Since -2 is -2. We've solved the system of equations correctly.

y = 2x + 9

1 = 2(-4) + 9

1 = -8 + 9

1 = 1.

Hence it is verified that x=-4 and y =1