Problema Solution
Nancy, Peter and Janet are solving the system of equations: .
Nancy chooses to use Substitution, and isolate the x in Eq 1. After going through the calculations, she ends up with 0 = 2.
Peter decides to use Addition, and multiplies Eq. 2 by . After going through the calculations, he obtains 0 = -1.
Janet decides to use Substitution, and isolates the y in Eq. 1. After going through the calculations, she obtains 12 = 14.
When they compare their results, they conclude that two of them must have made a mistake, since their answers are all different.
What do you think? Did Nancy, Peter and/or Janet make some kind of mistake in their calculations? If not, why would they get different answers? What do the answers mean?
Answer provided by our tutors
actually the equations given to students are inconsistent. When the equations are inconsistent, it is possible to derive a contradiction from the equations, such as the statement that 1 = 3. there is no solution.