I just answered a question on Yahoo Answers which really makes me wonder about the current state of math education. Here's the question: ALGEBRA 2 HELP !!!!!!? 1. Select the best possible first step to solving the system by first eliminating the y variable. 5x - y = 5 7x - 3y = -1 A) Multiply the first equation by -3. B) Multiply the second equation by -3. C) Multiply the first equation by 3. D) Multiply the second equation by 3. (more at link)