If The Equations 2x+y=8 And X-2y=4 Represent The Two Sides Of A Triangle What Does The Other Side Equal? What Is The Equation For The Third Side And How Do I Solve The Equations?
I just started algebra and I really need some help.
I just started algebra and I really need some help.
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Judging by the graphs of these equations (see picture), perhaps the other side of the triangle is x=0. The equation for the third side can be anything that
- doesn't go through the point (4,0), i.e. the point where these lines intersect, and
- isn't parallel to one of the other lines.
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To solve these equations for the point at which they intersect, you can do this.
1. Rewrite the equation so y is on one side by itself.
2x+y=8
y = 8-2x (subtract 2x from both sides of the equation)
x-2y=4
x=4+2y (add 2y to both sides)
x-4=2y (subtract 4 from both sides)
(x-4)/2 = y (divide both sides by 2)
2. Now, equate the two expressions for y
(x-4)/2 = y = 8-2x
3. Solve for x
(x-4)/2 = 8-2x
x-4 = 2(8-2x) (multiply both sides by 2)
x-4 = 16-4x (distributive law applied to right side)
x+4x-4 = 16 (add 4x to both sides)
x+4x = 16+4 (add 4 to both sides)
x(1+4) = 20 (apply distributive law to left side, i.e. simplify)
5x = 20
x = 20/5 = 4 (divide both sides by 5)
4. Solve for y
Pick the easiest expression to work with, and substitute the value of x
(x-4)/2 = y
(4-4)/2 = y
0/2 = y
0 = y
5. Put together what you know.
The point of intersection is (x=4, y=0), or (4, 0).
There are many other ways to solve these equations, some of which may take fewer steps. Whatever you do, you need to remember that the "equal sign" is a sacred thing. You must always maintain its integrity by doing to the left side exactly the same thing you do to the right side. Remember that, and algebra will be a lot easier.
answered 3 months ago