Answer to March 15, 1999 Problem

The Simultaneous Equations Problem 


    Solve the following simultaneous equations for x and y:


      7a      5a      11  
      ---  +  ---  =  ---
       x       y       4


              and


      5a      2a      17  
      ---  -  ---  =  ---
       x       y      20


Solution:

x = 4a

y = 5a       x, y, a can not = 0

To solve: Multiply the top equation by 2 and the bottom equation by 5. Adding will eliminate the term with 10a/y in it.
Then solve for x in terms of a.

Correctly solved by:

1. Dave Manning Coopersburg, PA
(Lehigh University)