Q) Solve the following pair of linear equations:

(a – b) x + (a + b) y = a² – 2 a b – b²

(a + b) (x + y) = a² + b²

Ans: 

Given the equations:

(a – b) x + (a + b) y = a² – 2 a b – b²…… (i)

(a + b) (x + y) = a² + b²……..(ii)

Step 1: Let’s subtract equation (ii) from equation (i) and we get:

[(a – b) x + (a + b) y] – [(a + b) (x + y)] = [ a² – 2 a b – b² ] – [ a² + b² ]

∴ [(a – b) x + (a + b) y] – [(a + b) x + (a + b) y)] = [a² – 2 a b – b² – a² – b²]

∴ [(a – b) x + (a + b) y – (a + b) x – (a + b) y)] = [a² – 2 a b – b² – a² – b²]

∴ [(a – b) x – (a + b) x ] = [ – 2 a b – b²  – b²]

∴ [a x – b x – a x – b x] = [- 2 a b – 2 b² ]

∴ [ – b x – b x] = [- 2 b ( a + b) ]

∴ [- 2 b x ] = [- 2 b ( a + b) ]

∴ x = ( a + b)

Step 2: Let’s substitute x = (a = b) in equation (ii) and we get:

(a + b) ( x + y) = a² + b²

∴ (a + b) [(a + b) + y] = a² + b²

∴ (a + b)² + (a + b) y = a² + b²

∴ (a + b) y = a² + b² – (a + b)²

∴ (a + b) y = a² + b² – (a² + b² + 2 a b)

∴ (a + b) y = a² + b² – a² –  b²  –  2 a b

∴ (a + b) y =  –  2 a b

∴ y = 

Therefore, x = (a + b) and y = 

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