Constructing a brick staircase: a brick staircase has a total of 30 steps. the bottom step requires 100 bricks. each successive step requires two less bricks than the prior step a) how many bricks are required for the top shelf? b) how many bricks are required to build the staircase sequences, pre-calc show all work : )

y=mx+b

step-by-step explanation:

m slope, b y-intercept

(0,-3) see attached graph

step-by-step explanation:

a. to solve the system, graph the two equations.

x = y+3 becomes y=x-3 has m=1/1 and b=-3. start at (0,-3) on the y-axis and plot a point. then move up 1 unit and 1 unit to the right. plot a point and connect.

y=-4x+3 has m =-4/1 and b=-3. start at (0,-3) on the y-axis and plot a point. then move down four units and to the right 1 unit. plot a point and connect.

the solution is the point (x,y) where the two lines intersect. by the graph below it is (0,-3).

b. to solve by substitution, substitute y = -4x-3 into x= y+3

x= (-4x-3) +3

x=-4x

5x=0

x=0

now substitute x = 0 back in to find y.

y= -4(0)-3

y=0-3

y=-3

solution is (0,-3)

c. use elimination by adding the equations together.

x-y=3

4x+y=-3

5x=0

x=0

then substitute into one equation to find y.

y=-4(0)-3

y=-3