Question

Give two solutions for 3y + 4 = 0

Answer 1

• If we take 3y + 4 as a linear equation in one variable, it will have only one solution:

3y + 4 = 0
3y = -4
y = -4/3

• However, if we take it as a linear equation in 2 variables, it has infinitely many solutions. Some are:

3y + 0x + 4 = 0
If x = 1,
3y + 0(1) + 4 = 0
3y + 4 = 0
y = -4/3
Therefore, one solution is (1, -4/3)

If x = 2,
3y + 0(2) + 4 = 0
3y + 4 = 0
y = -4/3
Therefore, another solution is (2, -4/3).