# Math Help - Vectors

1. ## Vectors

If a = 3x+2y and b=5x-4y, find x and y in terms of a and b.

Note: bolded=vectors (arrows on top)

So this is my attempt, but leads me to no enlightenment.. Please demonstrate to me the method to proceed to the correct answer.

x = (a/3) - (2y/3)
y = (-b/4) +(5x/4)

2. Originally Posted by skeske1234
If a = 3x+2y and b=5x-4y, find x and y in terms of a and b.

Note: bolded=vectors (arrows on top)

So this is my attempt, but leads me to no enlightenment.. Please demonstrate to me the method to proceed to the correct answer.

x = (a/3) - (2y/3)
y = (-b/4) +(5x/4)
$2\vec{a} = 6\vec{x} + 4\vec{y}$

$\vec{b} = 5\vec{x} - 4\vec{y}$

$2\vec{a} + \vec{b} = 11\vec{x}$

solve for vector x ...

$\vec{x} = \frac{2}{11} \vec{a} + \frac{1}{11} \vec{b}$

3. equation 1: $\overline{a}=3\overline{x}+2\overline{y}$
equation 2: $\overline{b}=5\overline{x}-4\overline{y}$

multiply equation 1 by 2 and add the result to the second equation

$2\overline{a}+\overline{b}=11\overline{x}$
hence, solving for x we obtain
$\overline{x}=\frac{1}{11}(2\overline{a}+\overline{ b})$

to solve for $\overline{y}$ we need to multiply the first equation by 5 and the second by 3 then subtract the second from the first, we obtain

$5\overline{a}-3\overline{b}=22\overline{y}$
solving for y we find
$\overline{y}=\frac{1}{22}(5\overline{a}-3\overline{b})$

4. Originally Posted by skeske1234
If a = 3x+2y and b=5x-4y, find x and y in terms of a and b.
We can write this in matrix form: $\left[ \begin{gathered}
a \hfill \\
b \hfill \\
\end{gathered} \right] = \left[ {\begin{array}{rr}
3 & 2 \\
5 & { - 4} \\
\end{array} } \right]\left[ \begin{gathered}
x \hfill \\
y \hfill \\
\end{gathered} \right]$

So $\left[ \begin{gathered}
x \hfill \\
y \hfill \\
\end{gathered} \right] = \left[ {\begin{array}{rr}
{\frac{2}
{{11}}} & {\frac{1}
{{11}}} \\
{\frac{5}
{{22}}} & {\frac{{ - 3}}
{{22}}} \\
\end{array} } \right]\left[ \begin{gathered}
a \hfill \\
b \hfill \\
\end{gathered} \right]$