The basic idea is if you have 2 equations you can sometimes do a single operation and then add the 2 equations in a way that eleiminates 1 of the 2 variables as the example that follows shows. This final equation 5 y 5 immediately implies y 1. This would eliminate the fractions and you could go forth and solve the system by elimination.
Before you can eliminate.
The basic idea is if you have 2 equations you can sometimes do a single operation and then add the 2 equations in a way that eleiminates 1 of the 2 variables as the example that follows shows. In the elimination method you either add or subtract the equations to get an equation in one variable. If you multiply all parts of the equation by the LCM it does not affect the solution. This is done by combining like terms.