Two equations are given below:

a – 3b = 16
a = b – 2

what is the solution to the set of equations in the form (a, b)? (5 points)

(–2, –6)
(–7, –9)
(–11, –9)
(–12, –10)

Since a = b - 2, we can substitute this value into the other equation to find the value of b.  Once we have a value for b, we substitute it back into one of the equations to find the value for a.

a - 3b = 16
b - 2 - 3b = 16
-2 - 2b = 16
-2b = 18
b = -9

Now substitute back into the equation

a = b - 2
a = -9 - 2
a = -11

Solution set in the form (a, b) is...

(-11, -9)