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1c-1 Solving Linear Simultaneous Equations

This document provides examples and explanations for solving systems of linear equations using the elimination and substitution methods. It discusses key steps like making coefficients equal, adding or subtracting equations to eliminate a variable, substituting values from one equation into the other, and checking solutions. Practice problems with solutions are provided for students to gain experience applying these methods.

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Joji Kolangada
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33 views

1c-1 Solving Linear Simultaneous Equations

This document provides examples and explanations for solving systems of linear equations using the elimination and substitution methods. It discusses key steps like making coefficients equal, adding or subtracting equations to eliminate a variable, substituting values from one equation into the other, and checking solutions. Practice problems with solutions are provided for students to gain experience applying these methods.

Uploaded by

Joji Kolangada
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Solving linear simultaneous equations

using the elimination method


A LEVEL LINKS
Scheme of work: 1c. Equations – quadratic/linear simultaneous

Key points
 Two equations are simultaneous when they are both true at the same time.
 Solving simultaneous linear equations in two unknowns involves finding the value of each
unknown which works for both equations.
 Make sure that the coefficient of one of the unknowns is the same in both equations.
 Eliminate this equal unknown by either subtracting or adding the two equations.

Examples
Example 1 Solve the simultaneous equations 3x + y = 5 and x + y = 1

3x + y = 5 1 Subtract the second equation from


– x+y=1 the first equation to eliminate the y
2x =4 term.
So x = 2

Using x + y = 1 2 To find the value of y, substitute


2+y=1 x = 2 into one of the original
So y = −1 equations.

Check: 3 Substitute the values of x and y into


equation 1: 3 × 2 + (−1) = 5 YES both equations to check your
equation 2: 2 + (−1) = 1 YES answers.

Example 2 Solve x + 2y = 13 and 5x − 2y = 5 simultaneously.

x + 2y = 13 1 Add the two equations together to


+ 5x − 2y = 5 eliminate the y term.
   6x = 18
So x = 3

Using x + 2y = 13 2 To find the value of y, substitute


3 + 2y = 13 x = 3 into one of the original
So y = 5 equations.

Check: 3 Substitute the values of x and y into


equation 1: 3 + 2 × 5 = 13 YES both equations to check your
equation 2: 5 × 3 − 2 × 5 = 5 YES answers.
Example 3 Solve 2x + 3y = 2 and 5x + 4y = 12 simultaneously.

(2x + 3y = 2) × 4 8x + 12y = 8 1 Multiply the first equation by 4 and


(5x + 4y = 12) × 3 15x + 12y = 36 the second equation by 3 to make
7x = 28 the coefficient of y the same for
both equations. Then subtract the
So x = 4 first equation from the second
equation to eliminate the y term.

Using 2x + 3y = 2 2 To find the value of y, substitute


2 × 4 + 3y = 2 x = 4 into one of the original
So y = −2 equations.

Check: 3 Substitute the values of x and y into


equation 1: 2 × 4 + 3 × (−2) = 2 YES both equations to check your
equation 2: 5 × 4 + 4 × (−2) = 12 YES answers.

Practice
Solve these simultaneous equations.

1 4x + y = 8 2 3x + y = 7
x + y = 5. Y = 4; x = 1 3x + 2y = 5. X=3; y = -2

3 4x + y = 3 4 3x + 4y = 7
3x – y = 11 x – 4y = 5

5 2x + y = 11 6 2x + 3y = 11
x – 3y = 9 3x + 2y = 4 y = 5; x = -2
Solving linear simultaneous equations
using the substitution method
A LEVEL LINKS
Scheme of work: 1c. Equations – quadratic/linear simultaneous
Textbook: Pure Year 1, 3.1 Linear simultaneous equations

Key points
 The subsitution method is the method most commonly used for A level. This is because it is
the method used to solve linear and quadratic simultaneous equations.

Examples
Example 4 Solve the simultaneous equations y = 2x + 1 and 5x + 3y = 14

5x + 3(2x + 1) = 14 1 Substitute 2x + 1 for y into the


second equation.
5x + 6x + 3 = 14 2 Expand the brackets and simplify.
11x + 3 = 14
11x = 11 3 Work out the value of x.
So x = 1

Using y = 2x + 1 4 To find the value of y, substitute


y=2×1+1 x = 1 into one of the original
So y = 3 equations.

Check: 5 Substitute the values of x and y into


equation 1: 3 = 2 × 1 + 1 YES both equations to check your
equation 2: 5 × 1 + 3 × 3 = 14 YES answers.

Example 5 Solve 2x − y = 16 and 4x + 3y = −3 simultaneously.

y = 2x − 16 1 Rearrange the first equation.


4x + 3(2x − 16) = −3 2 Substitute 2x − 16 for y into the
second equation.
4x + 6x − 48 = −3 3 Expand the brackets and simplify.
10x − 48 = −3
10x = 45 4 Work out the value of x.
So x =
Using y = 2x − 16 5 To find the value of y, substitute
y=2× − 16 x =  into one of the original
So y = −7 equations.

Check: 6 Substitute the values of x and y into


both equations to check your
equation 1: 2 × – (–7) = 16 YES
answers.
equation 2: 4 ×   + 3 × (−7) = −3 YES
Practice
Solve these simultaneous equations.

7 y=x–4 8 y = 2x – 3
2x + 5y = 43 5x – 3y = 11

9 2y = 4x + 5 10 2x = y – 2
9x + 5y = 22 8x – 5y = –11

11 3x + 4y = 8 12 3y = 4x – 7
2x – y = –13 2y = 3x – 4

13 3x = y – 1 14 3x + 2y + 1 = 0
2y – 2x = 3 4y = 8 – x. y = 2.5; x = -2

Extend

15 Solve the simultaneous equations 3x + 5y − 20 = 0 and .

Y = 5.5; x = -2.5
Answers
1 x = 1, y = 4

2 x = 3, y = –2

3 x = 2, y = –5

4 x = 3, y = –

5 x = 6, y = –1

6 x = –2, y = 5

7 x = 9, y = 5

8 x = –2, y = –7

9 x= ,y=3

10 x = ,y=3

11 x = –4, y = 5

12 x = –2, y = –5

13 x = ,y=1

14 x = –2, y = 2

15 x = –2 , y = 5

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