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CEMC Fermat

Algebra Difficulty 1.9 Junior Find the answer

If 3+x=53+x=5 and −3+y=5-3+y=5, what is the value of x+yx+y?

A number or a short expression. Fractions can be typed as 3/2, and spacing doesn't matter.

Solution

Since 3+x=53+x=5, then x=2x=2. Since −3+y=5-3+y=5, then y=8y=8. Thus, x+y=10x+y=10. Alternatively, we could have added the original two equations to obtain (3+x)+(−3+y)=5+5(3+x)+(-3+y)=5+5 which simplifies to x+y=10x+y=10.

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