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In Mathematics / College | 2025-07-04

Solve the following system by the substitution method.

[tex]\begin{array}{l}
x+y=1 \\
y=x^2-11
\end{array}[/tex]

Select the correct choice below and, if necessary, fill in the answer.
A. The solution set is { }. (Type an ordered pair. Use a comma to separate answers.)
B. There is no solution.

Asked by shladybartender

Answer (1)

Express y in terms of x using the first equation: y = 1 − x .
Substitute this expression into the second equation: 1 − x = x 2 − 11 .
Rearrange into a quadratic equation: x 2 + x − 12 = 0 .
Solve for x by factoring: ( x + 4 ) ( x − 3 ) = 0 , so x = − 4 or x = 3 . Then find the corresponding y values. The solution set is {( − 4 , 5 ) , ( 3 , − 2 )} ​ .

Explanation

Problem Setup We are given a system of two equations:

Equation 1: x + y = 1 Equation 2: y = x 2 − 11
We will solve this system using the substitution method.

Express y in terms of x From Equation 1, we can express y in terms of x :

y = 1 − x

Substitution Substitute this expression for y into Equation 2:

1 − x = x 2 − 11

Quadratic Form Rearrange the equation into a standard quadratic form:

x 2 + x − 12 = 0

Solve for x Solve the quadratic equation by factoring:

( x + 4 ) ( x − 3 ) = 0
So, x = − 4 or x = 3 .

Solve for y For each value of x , substitute it back into the equation y = 1 − x to find the corresponding value of y .

If x = − 4 , then y = 1 − ( − 4 ) = 5 . So one solution is ( − 4 , 5 ) .
If x = 3 , then y = 1 − 3 = − 2 . So another solution is ( 3 , − 2 ) .

Solution Set The solution set is {( − 4 , 5 ) , ( 3 , − 2 )} .

Examples
Systems of equations are used in various real-world applications, such as determining the break-even point for a business, modeling supply and demand in economics, or calculating the trajectory of a projectile in physics. In this case, we found the intersection points of a line and a parabola, which can be visualized graphically. Understanding how to solve systems of equations is crucial for making informed decisions and predictions in many fields.

Answered by GinnyAnswer | 2025-07-04