The sum of a and b is -5, and a - b = 8. What is the value of a?
(You should know this is algebra question.)
a + b = -5 (1)
a - b = 8 (2)
Add equations (1) and (2) term by term:
a+a + b +(-b) = -5 + 8
Simplifying
2a = 3
Divide both sides by 2 to get
a = 3/2
You could substitute this back into either (1) or (2) if you also wished to find b.
.
+426 
