Beau has decided to use the method of elimination to solve the system of equations as shown below.

2x + 3y = 15

x - 3y = 3

Explain what Beau's first step could be, and why the technique of elimination provides a solution to the system of equations.

Answer the question using complete sentences and/or mathematical statements.

Step-by-step explanation:

Usually when we solve using elimination we have to multiply one equation by a certain number so that when we add them together one term will cancel with another. Here its already done for us. So, the first step that Beau should do in this case, is to add the two equations together so that - 3y and + 3y will cancel out and become 0. That leaves us with this - being an equation we can solve: 3x = 18. The technique of using elimination is useful because by manipulating one equation so that one variable term (meaning a term with x and y) will cancel with another we can have an equation with only one variable that we can solve. After solving that equation we can then plug that value back into one of the original equations and then solve for the other value, in this case the value for y.