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Difficulty: 2/102025 IOQM 2025 (Q25)

If and , find the value of .

Options:

  • A.

    7

  • 5

  • C.

    6

  • D.

    8

Guide / Hint

Hint 1: Do not solve for and individually. Look for a way to get directly.

Hint 2: Add the two equations: .

Hint 3: Simplify to , and divide by 5 to find .

Solution

Step 1: Write the system of linear equations:

Step 2: Add the two equations together:

Step 3: Factor out on the left side:

Step 4: Divide both sides by :

So the value of is .

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