How do you solve the system x^2-y=5x2y=5 and -3x+y=-73x+y=7?

1 Answer
Jul 6, 2016

x = 2, y = -1" or " x = 1, y = -4x=2,y=1 or x=1,y=4

Explanation:

Conveniently there is a single yy term in each equation so they can both be changed to have yy as the subject.

y = x^2 - 5 " and "y = 3x -7y=x25 and y=3x7

Since y = yy=y it follows that

x^2 - 5 =3x -7x25=3x7

x^2 -3x +2 = 0 " factorise the trinomial"x23x+2=0 factorise the trinomial

(x -2)(x -1) = 0(x2)(x1)=0

x = 2" or "x = 1x=2 or x=1

There are 2 possible answers for x, find the corresponding value for y..

When x = 2," " y = 3 xx 2 - 7 = -1x=2, y=3×27=1
When x = 1" "y = 3 xx 1 -7 = -4x=1 y=3×17=4