sandy wrote:
3a + 2b = 20 and 2a + 3b = 5
Quantity A |
Quantity B |
a+b |
a |
There are two primary ways to solve systems of equations
1) Substitution method
2) Elimination method
And most cases (and especially in this case), the elimination method will be faster.
Take:
3a + 2b = 20
2a + 3b = 5
Add the equations to get: 5a + 5b = 25
Divide both sides by 5 to get:
a + b = 5Now take:
3a + 2b = 20
2a + 3b = 5
Multiply both sides of the TOP equation by 3, and multiply both sides of the BOTTOM equation by 2 to get:
9a + 6b = 60
4a + 6b = 10
Subtract the bottom equation from the top equation to get: 5a = 50, which means
a = 10We now have:
QUANTITY A:
5QUANTITY B:
10Answer: B
Cheers,
Brent