Unravel the System: Solve for x and y in Fractional Equations

System of Equations with Fractional Forms

Look at the two equations below. Calculate the values of x and y using the substitution method.

{xy2+y+x3=6yx5y+x1=8 \begin{cases}\frac{x-y}{2}+\frac{-y+x}{3}=-6 \\ \frac{-y-x}{5}-\frac{y+x}{1}=8\end{cases}

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Solve the system of equations
00:05 Multiply by 6 to eliminate fractions
00:19 Open parentheses properly, multiply by each term
00:31 Combine like terms
00:39 This is the first simplified equation
00:45 Multiply by 5 to eliminate fractions
00:55 Open parentheses properly, multiply by each term
01:05 Combine like terms
01:12 This is the second simplified equation
01:30 Isolate X
01:44 This is the value of X, we'll substitute it in the second equation to find Y
02:04 Multiply by 5 to eliminate the fraction
02:20 Isolate Y
02:31 This is the value of Y
02:41 Now substitute the value of Y to find X
03:14 And this is the solution to the problem

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

Look at the two equations below. Calculate the values of x and y using the substitution method.

{xy2+y+x3=6yx5y+x1=8 \begin{cases}\frac{x-y}{2}+\frac{-y+x}{3}=-6 \\ \frac{-y-x}{5}-\frac{y+x}{1}=8\end{cases}

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll break it down into clear steps:

  • Step 1: Simplify the given equations for easier manipulation.
  • Step 2: Use the substitution method to express one variable in terms of the other from one equation.
  • Step 3: Insert this expression into the other equation to solve for one variable.
  • Step 4: Finally, substitute back to find the second variable.

Now, let's work through each step:

Step 1: Simplify the first equation.
The first equation is: xy2+y+x3=6 \frac{x-y}{2} + \frac{-y+x}{3} = -6
First, let's find a common denominator of 6 for the fractions: 3(xy)+2(y+x)6=6 \frac{3(x-y) + 2(-y+x)}{6} = -6
This simplifies to: 3x3y2y+2x6=6 \frac{3x-3y-2y+2x}{6} = -6
5x5y6=6 \frac{5x-5y}{6} = -6

Step 1 (cont.): Multiply both sides by 6 to get rid of the denominator:
5x5y=36 5x - 5y = -36
Divide every term by 5 to make it simpler: xy=365 x - y = -\frac{36}{5} x=y365 x = y - \frac{36}{5} (Equation 1)

Step 2: Simplify the second equation.
The second equation is: yx5(y+x)=8 \frac{-y-x}{5} - (y + x) = 8 Multiply through by 5 to clear the fraction from the first term: yx5(y+x)=40 -y-x - 5(y + x) = 40 This expands to: yx5y5x=40 -y-x - 5y - 5x = 40 Combine like terms: 6y6x=40 -6y - 6x = 40 Divide every term by -6 for simplicity: y+x=406 y + x = -\frac{40}{6} y+x=203 y + x = -\frac{20}{3} (Equation 2)

Step 3: Substitute for x x in Equation 2 using Equation 1.
From (Equation 1), x=y365 x = y - \frac{36}{5} . Substitute this into Equation 2: y+(y365)=203 y + (y - \frac{36}{5}) = -\frac{20}{3} This gives: 2y365=203 2y - \frac{36}{5} = -\frac{20}{3} Add 365\frac{36}{5} to both sides to isolate 2y2y: 2y=203+365 2y = -\frac{20}{3} + \frac{36}{5}

Convert both terms to a common denominator to add them together. The common denominator of 3 and 5 is 15: 2y=10015+10815 2y = -\frac{100}{15} + \frac{108}{15} This simplifies to: 2y=815 2y = \frac{8}{15} Divide both sides by 2 to solve for y y : y=4150.266 y = \frac{4}{15} \approx 0.266

Step 4: Solve for x x using y y 's value in Equation 1.
Plug y=415 y = \frac{4}{15} back into Equation 1: x=415365 x = \frac{4}{15} - \frac{36}{5} To add, convert to a common denominator, which can be 15: x=41510815 x = \frac{4}{15} - \frac{108}{15} x=410815 x = \frac{4 - 108}{15} x=104156.933 x = -\frac{104}{15} \approx -6.933

Therefore, after solving both variables, the values that satisfy the given system of equations are:
x6.933, y0.266 x \approx -6.933,\ y \approx 0.266 .

3

Final Answer

x=6.933,y=0.266 x=-6.933,y=0.266

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Simplification: Find common denominators to combine fractional terms first
  • Substitution: Express x = y - 36/5 from first equation
  • Verification: Check both solutions in original equations: -6.933 + 0.266 = -20/3 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Forgetting to multiply all terms by the same denominator
    Don't multiply only the fractional terms by denominators while leaving other terms unchanged = unbalanced equations! This creates false relationships between variables. Always multiply every single term on both sides by the same value when clearing fractions.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Solve the following equations:

\( \begin{cases} 2x+y=9 \\ x=5 \end{cases} \)

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do I need to simplify the fractions first before using substitution?

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Simplifying first makes the algebra much cleaner! Instead of working with messy fractions like xy2+y+x3 \frac{x-y}{2} + \frac{-y+x}{3} , you get simple forms like xy=365 x - y = -\frac{36}{5} .

How do I know which equation to solve for x or y first?

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Choose the equation that gives you the simplest expression. In this problem, the first equation simplified nicely to x=y365 x = y - \frac{36}{5} , making substitution easier.

What if I get decimal answers instead of fractions?

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Both are correct! x=10415 x = -\frac{104}{15} is the exact answer, while x6.933 x ≈ -6.933 is the decimal approximation. Always check which form the problem asks for.

How can I check if my substitution method worked correctly?

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Substitute both values back into both original equations. For example: 6.9330.2662+0.266+(6.933)3 \frac{-6.933-0.266}{2} + \frac{0.266+(-6.933)}{3} should equal -6.

Why did the second equation become so much simpler?

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The term y+x1 \frac{y+x}{1} is just y+x y+x ! When you see a fraction with denominator 1, it's the same as the numerator. This made combining terms much easier.

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