The problem is to solve a system of two linear equations with two variables, $x$ and $y$, using Cramer's rule (the determinant method). The system of equations is: $(1+2k)x + 5y = 7$ $(2+k)x + 4y = 8$

AlgebraLinear EquationsCramer's RuleDeterminantsSystems of EquationsSolving Equations
2025/5/26

1. Problem Description

The problem is to solve a system of two linear equations with two variables, xx and yy, using Cramer's rule (the determinant method). The system of equations is:
(1+2k)x+5y=7(1+2k)x + 5y = 7
(2+k)x+4y=8(2+k)x + 4y = 8

2. Solution Steps

Cramer's rule involves calculating determinants.
The general form of a system of two linear equations is:
a1x+b1y=c1a_1x + b_1y = c_1
a2x+b2y=c2a_2x + b_2y = c_2
The determinant of the coefficient matrix, DD, is:
D=a1b1a2b2=a1b2a2b1D = \begin{vmatrix} a_1 & b_1 \\ a_2 & b_2 \end{vmatrix} = a_1b_2 - a_2b_1
The determinant DxD_x is obtained by replacing the first column of DD with the constants c1c_1 and c2c_2:
Dx=c1b1c2b2=c1b2c2b1D_x = \begin{vmatrix} c_1 & b_1 \\ c_2 & b_2 \end{vmatrix} = c_1b_2 - c_2b_1
The determinant DyD_y is obtained by replacing the second column of DD with the constants c1c_1 and c2c_2:
Dy=a1c1a2c2=a1c2a2c1D_y = \begin{vmatrix} a_1 & c_1 \\ a_2 & c_2 \end{vmatrix} = a_1c_2 - a_2c_1
The solutions for xx and yy are:
x=DxDx = \frac{D_x}{D}
y=DyDy = \frac{D_y}{D}
In our case, we have:
a1=1+2k,b1=5,c1=7a_1 = 1 + 2k, b_1 = 5, c_1 = 7
a2=2+k,b2=4,c2=8a_2 = 2 + k, b_2 = 4, c_2 = 8
First, we calculate DD:
D=(1+2k)(4)(2+k)(5)=4+8k105k=3k6D = (1+2k)(4) - (2+k)(5) = 4 + 8k - 10 - 5k = 3k - 6
Next, we calculate DxD_x:
Dx=(7)(4)(8)(5)=2840=12D_x = (7)(4) - (8)(5) = 28 - 40 = -12
Then, we calculate DyD_y:
Dy=(1+2k)(8)(2+k)(7)=8+16k147k=9k6D_y = (1+2k)(8) - (2+k)(7) = 8 + 16k - 14 - 7k = 9k - 6
Finally, we find xx and yy:
x=DxD=123k6=123(k2)=4k2x = \frac{D_x}{D} = \frac{-12}{3k - 6} = \frac{-12}{3(k - 2)} = \frac{-4}{k - 2}
y=DyD=9k63k6=3(3k2)3(k2)=3k2k2y = \frac{D_y}{D} = \frac{9k - 6}{3k - 6} = \frac{3(3k - 2)}{3(k - 2)} = \frac{3k - 2}{k - 2}

3. Final Answer

x=4k2x = \frac{-4}{k-2}
y=3k2k2y = \frac{3k-2}{k-2}