If you were to solve the following system by substitution what would be the best variable to solve and from what equation? 2x+8y=12 3x-8y=11

All the numbers in the first equation have a common factor of 2. Removing that gives
.. x +4y = 6
making it easy to solve for x
.. x = 6 -4y

My choice would be to solve for x using the first equation.

_____
On second thought, it might actually be easier to solve either equation for 8y. That term then directly substitutes into the other equation (equivalent to adding the two equations).
.. 8y = 3x -11 . . . . . from the second equation
.. 2x +(3x -11) = 12 . . . substituting into the first equation
.. 5x = 23 . . . . . . . . . . collect terms, add 11 (what you would get by adding the equations in the first place)
.. x = 4.6
.. y = (3*4.6 -11)/8 = 0.35

Num of plants = (original#ofplants)*(1.6)^t

The correct answer is -3.9> -4.5 gucci playa