WAEC 2024 · Paper 1 · Q12

Linear & simultaneous equations

If $3x - 2y = -5$ and $x + 2y = 9$ , find the value of $\dfrac{x - y}{x + y}$ .

Worked solution (try it first)

Add the two equations so the $y$ terms cancel: $4x = 4$ , so $x = 1$ .
Put $x = 1$ into $x + 2y = 9$ : $2y = 8$ , so $y = 4$ .
Then $x - y = -3$ and $x + y = 5$ .
So $\dfrac{x - y}{x + y} = -\frac35$ , option C.

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