Factor out 9 and then divide both sides by 9 9x+9y = 999 9(x+y) = 999 9(x+y)/9 = 999/9 x+y = 111
Answer: 111
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Problem 3
I'm not sure on this one. The previous tricks of adding the equations won't work because we want x-y instead of x+y. Subtracting the equations won't work because the y^2 and z^2 terms won't cancel.
I tried to use substitution but it led me in circles. There's probably some other shortcut I'm forgetting about. So I'd seek a second helper for another opinion.