16Hit1600
AlgebraHardConstant for a parallel line with a given intercept gap

Algebra practice question

In the xy-plane, the lines 2x + 5y = 20 and 2x + 5y = c, where c > 20, are parallel, and their y-intercepts are 3 units apart. What is the value of c?

Answer: 35

The first line's y-intercept is 20/5 = 4. The second's must be 7, so c/5 = 7 and c = 35.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 5
5 comes from c/5 = 1, using the gap alone as the intercept.
If you answered 7
7 is the second line's y-intercept, not c.
If you answered 23
23 adds 3 to 20 instead of to the y-intercept.

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