One of the two equations in a system of linear equations is given. The system has infinitely many solutions. If the second equation in the system is , where and are constants, what is the value of ?
Explanation
Answer: D.
Explanation:1. Understand the condition for infinitely many solutions: A system of two linear equations has infinitely many solutions if and only if the two equations represent the same line. This means their slopes must be equal, and their y-intercepts must be equal.
-
Identify the slope and y-intercept of the first equation: The first equation is . This is in the slope-intercept form . So, for the first equation: Slope = y-intercept =
-
Identify the slope and y-intercept of the second equation: The second equation is given as . Slope = y-intercept =
-
Apply the condition for infinitely many solutions: For the two lines to be identical: The slopes must be equal: . The y-intercepts must be equal: .
-
Determine the value of b: From the above, the value of b must be .
Conclusion:If the system has infinitely many solutions, the value of b must be .