The x variable represents the year in question. The year 2000 is represented by x = 0, 2001 would be repreented by x = 1, and so on.
The year in which both states would have the same population can be determined by the value of x which satisfies both equations.
We would now solve these system of equations as follows;
[tex]\begin{gathered} -5x+y=11700---(1) \\ -144x+y=9000---(2) \\ \text{Subtract equation (2) from equation (1);} \\ -5x-\lbrack-144x\rbrack=11700-9000 \\ -5x+144x=2700 \\ 139x=2700 \\ \text{Divide both sides by 139} \\ x=19.4244 \\ x\approx19\text{ (rounded to the nearest whole number)} \end{gathered}[/tex]
Note that x = 19 represents the year 2019
ANSWER:
The two states will have the same population in the year 2019
