What counts as the solution to a system of two linear rules in two unknowns?
- Any value of x that makes the first rule true
- Any pair of values that fits either rule alone
- The point where each line meets the sideways axis
- A pair of values that fits both rules at once
Show answer and solution
Correct answer: D. A pair of values that fits both rules at once
1. A system in two unknowns needs a value for each unknown, so a solution is a pair rather than a single number.
2. That pair has to satisfy each rule on its own, not just one of them.
3. Option B drops the word both, which is the whole point of a system.
4. So the solution is a pair of values that fits both rules at once, option D.
_Source: OpenStax College Algebra (CC BY 4.0), Ch 7 "Systems of Equations and Inequalities", section 7.1 Systems of Linear Equations: Two Variables_