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Text Solution:

While this is a system of two equations, we can apply the same strategy of clearing the fractions from each equation using the LCM. The first equation has denominators of 3 and 2. The multiples of 3 are 3, 6, …. The multiples of 2 are 2, 4, 6, …. Thus, we see that the LCM of 3 and 2 is 6. We can multiply the entire first equation by 6 and simplify:

$\begin{array}{l}\Rightarrow 6\left(\frac{2x}{3}-2y=\frac{5}{2}\right)\\ \Rightarrow \frac{\stackrel{2}{\cancel{6}}\left(2x\right)}{\cancel{3}}-6\left(2y\right)=\frac{\stackrel{3}{\cancel{6}}\left(5\right)}{\cancel{2}}\\ \Rightarrow 2(2x)-6(2y)=3(5)\\ \Rightarrow 4x-12y=15\end{array}$

For the second equation, we see that the LCM of the denominators is the sole denominator, which is 5. Thus, we multiply the entire equation by 5 and simplify:

$\begin{array}{l}\Rightarrow 5\left(\frac{x}{5}-2y=3\right)\\ \Rightarrow \frac{5x}{5}-5(2y)=5(3)\\ \Rightarrow x-10y=15\end{array}$

To determine the value of y, we can solve the system of equations by using the substitution method. In order to do so, let’s isolate x in the second equation by adding 10y to both sides:

$\Rightarrow x=10y+15$

We can now substitute 10y + 15 for x in the first equation:

$\begin{array}{l}\Rightarrow 4x-12y=15\\ \Rightarrow 4(10y+15)-12y=15\\ \Rightarrow 40y+60-12y=15\\ \Rightarrow 28y=-45\\ \Rightarrow y=-\frac{45}{28}\end{array}$

LEARNING JOURNAL

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