Given the equation 5x + 2y = 110000 representing school fees, explain why unique values for x and y cannot be determined and express one variable in terms of the other.

Let $x$ be the school fee for a day scholar per year.
Let $y$ be the school fee for a boarder per year.

The total school fees for 5 day scholars and 2 boarders is Sh 110,000.

Since there is only one equation and two unknown variables ($x$ and $y$), it is not possible to find unique numerical values for the school fees charged for each day scholar and boarder. We can only express one variable in terms of the other.

We can express $y$ in terms of $x$:

Or, we can express $x$ in terms of $y$:

Without additional information (a second equation), the specific fees for a day scholar and a boarder cannot be determined.