Do not solve the system below. Its solution is (x, y)
= (1, 1). Instead, answer the questions.
3x + 4y = 7
5x + 10y = 15
If you were going to solve the system above, what
would be the best first step according to the
strategy you just learned?
Solve for x in the first equation.
Solve for y in the first equation.
Solve for x in the second equation.
Solve for y in the second equation.
Solving for x in the second equation produces a coefficient of 1 or –1. This choice avoids fractions. Each term in the second equation can be divided by 5. That makes x easy to isolate.