What makes solving an equation with two variables different than one variable?

Answer 1

Let me give you two examples:

One Variable: x * 5 + 2 = 5x + 2

Two Variables: x * 5 + y = 5x + y

If you find out what x is in the first example, you know the answer to the equation. Say x was 23, 23 * 5 + 2 = 117 .

If you find out what x is in the second example, you do not know the answer to the equation.

Say x was 23 again, 23 * 5 + y = 115 + y

You just end up with another equation.

Say y was 23 and you did not know what x was, x * 5 + 23 = 5x + 23

You end up with an equation.

So you have to know x AND y.

So say they were both 23, 23 * 5 + 23 = 138

That is the difference, with one variable, you need to know one variable to figure out the answer.

With two variables, you need to know both to know the answer.

Three variables, all three.

It goes on like that.

I hope I answered your question!