How would you simplify these 2 equations?

Haha, this is one of the first times that I've seen someone say that he/she doesn't want the answer, just a pointer in the right direction...awesome! =]

So, basically, tweak the equations so the x and y variables are on the left side, and everything else is on the right.

22x + 20y - 1909 = 0 --> 22x + 20y = 1909

99x - 43y - 6478 = 0 --> 99x - 42y = 6478

Okay, now we have to multiply a certain number to both equations in order to make the coefficients (e.g. 2x -- 2 is the coefficient) of either x or y equal to each other, so they cancel out.

22x + 20y = 1909 --> 9(22x + 20y) = 1909(9) --> 198x + 180y = 15,272

99x - 43y = 6478 --> 2(99x - 43y) = 6478(2) --> 198x - 86y = 12,965

Now, let's subtract the second equation from the first, in order to get rid of the x's.

``198x + 180y = 15,272

-(198x - 86y) = -(12,965)

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And so on...

So then, the x's cancel, and you're left with y. You solve for y, and then plug the value of y into one of the original equations to find x.

Hope this helped, and good luck!! :)

first step is to get ONE of the variables by itself. so can you do that? like in the first one just move everything to the right until you get x alone = something else. then once you get that x value just plug it back in to find y.

they seem as simplified as it can go