y = 3x + 2
y = 4x - 5

solve for x

Courtney

Hi Courtney,

Each of the two equations, y = 3x + 2 and y = 4x - 5 is the equation of a line in the plane. The instruction "solve for x" asks you to find the x-coordinate of the point where they intersect.


If you knew the x-coordinate of this point of intersection then you could find the y-coordinate in two different ways. Since the point is on the first line the y-coordinate is given by

y = 3x + 2
and since the point is on the second line the y-coordinate is given by

y = 4x - 5.
But this point is on both lines so the value for the y-coordinate must be the same in both cases. That is

4x - 5 = 3x + 2

Now can you solver for x?

Penny
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