Edexcel Maths GCSE - Solving Simultaneous Equations (H) PhysicsAndMathsTutor.

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Q1. Solve the simultaneous equations

3x + 4y = 7
5x – 2y = 16.

x = .............................

y = .............................
(Total 3 marks)

Q2. Solve the simultaneous equations

3x + 2y = 11

2x – 5y = 20

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x = .....................................

y = .....................................
(Total 4 marks)

Q3. Solve the simultaneous equations.

2x + 3y = 0
x – 3y = 9

x=........................... , y = ............................
(Total 3 marks)

Q4. Solve the simultaneous equations

x +y =5
2 2

y = 3x + 1

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x = .................... y = .....................

or x = .................... y = .....................
(Total 6 marks)

Q5.

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The diagram shows graphs of y = x + 2 and 2y + 3x = 12

(a) Use the diagram to solve the simultaneous equations

y= x+2

2y + 3x = 12

x = ................... y = ....................
(1)

(b) Find an equation of the straight line which is parallel to the line y = x+2
and passes through the point (0, 4).

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.....................................
(2)
(Total 3 marks)

Q6. (a) Simplify fully

.....................................
(3)

(b) Solve (x – 1)(x + 2) = 18

.....................................
(4)

(c) Solve the simultaneous equations

y=x –1
2

y=5–x

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.....................................

.....................................
(5)
(Total 12 marks)

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M1.

Working Answer Mark Additional Guidance

3x + 4y = 7 x = 3, 3 M1 for coefficients of × or y the same followed by

10x – 4y = 32 correct operation, condone one arithmetical error
M1 (dep) for substituting found value in one equation
A1 cao
13x = 39 y=– SC: B1 for one correct answer only if Ms not awarded
x=3
Alternative method
3 × 3 + 4y = 7 M1 for rearranging one equation and substituting in
4y = –2 other to eliminate one variable(condone one
arithmetical error)
M1 (dep) for substituting found value in one equation
A1 cao
x=

10( ) – 4y
= 32

Total for Question: 3 marks

M2.

Working Answer Mark Additional Guidance

15x + 10y = 55 x=5 4 M1 for correct multiplication and use of correct

4x – 10y = 40 operation to eliminate either x or y, condone one
y = –2 arithmetical error
19x = 95
x=5 A1 for either x = 5 or y = –2

15 + 2y = 11 M1 (dep) for substitution of found variable into

2y = –4 either equation
y = –2
A1 for correct value of 2nd variable

OR

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M1 for correct rearrangement of 1 equation and

substitution into 2nd

A1 for either x = 5 or y = –2

M1 (dep) for substitution of found variable into

either equation

A1 for correct value of 2nd variable

OR

M1 for one line drawn

M1 for second line drawn

A1 for x = 5

A1 for y = –2

(SC : If no method marks awarded, score B1 for

one value correct)

Total for Question: 4 marks

M3.

Working Answer Mark Additional Guidance

e.g. adding equations x=3 3 M1 for adding equations or for coefficients of x the
leads to 3x = 9 same followed by subtracting the equations condone
one arithmetical error
substitute x = 3 into M1 (dep) for substituting found value in one equation
eqn(1) leads to 3y = –6 A1 cao

OR

M1 for 2(9 + 3y) + 3y = 0, condone one arithmetic

error
M1 (dep) for substituting found value in one equation
A1 cao

(SC: B1 for one correct answer only if Ms not

awarded)

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Total for Question: 3 marks

M4.

Working Answer Mark Additional Guidance

y = (3x + 1)
2 2
x = 0.4 6 M1 for (3x + 1)2 seen or implied by sight of 9x2 + 1
x + 9x + 6x + 1 = 5
2 2
y = 2.2 A1 for x2 + 9x2 + 6x + 1 = 5 or equivalent expanded
10x + 6x + 1 = 5
2 form
10x + 6x – 4 = 0
2 x = –1 M1 (dep) for correct attempt to solve a 3-term
y = –2 quadratic equation (condone omission of = 0)
2(5 x + 3x – 2) = 0
2

A1 for x = 0.4, x = –1
2(5x – 2)(x + 1) = 0
M1 (dep on previous Ms) for sub one value of x into
either equation
A1 for y = 2.2, y = –2 (correctly paired with x values)
[SC: B1 for one correct pair of solutions if M0
scored]

Total for Question: 6 marks

M5.

Answer Mark Additional Guidance

(a) x = 2, y = 3 1 B1 cao

(b) 2
y= M1 for y = mx + 4 or y = , c ≠ 2, or

A1 for y = oe

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Total for Question: 3 marks

M6.

Working Answer Mark Additional Guidance

(a) x3/2 × x1/2 x2 3 B1 x3/2 seen

B1 x1/2 oe seen

A1 cao

(b) x2 – 1x +2x –2 = 18 4, –5 4 M1 Correct expantion

x2 + x – 20 = 0 B1 x2 + x – 20 = 0

(x + 5)(x – 4) B1 (x + 5)(x – 4)

A1 cao

(c) x2 + x – 6 = 0 x = –3, y = 8 5 M1 Sets equations equal and

rearranges
(x + 3)(x – 2) x = 2, y = 3
B1 x2 + x – 6 = 0
x = –3, x = 2
B1 (x – 3)(x + 2)

A2 Two correct pair of sollutions

A1 correct set of x values

Total for Question: 12 marks

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E1. The sensible way to solve this pair of simultaneous equations is to double the second
and then add to get 13x = 39, from which x = 3. In many cases the candidate started well
and made the coefficients of y equal and opposite (or x equal and the same). After this
stage however, things began to unravel, often with the wrong operation being carried out
– although it was nice to see STOP (Same Take, Opposite Plus) and SSS (Same Signs
Subtract) being used as mnemonics. Of course many candidates could not really make a
start on the question. There was very little sign of the substitution method.

E3. A surprising number of candidates did not just simply add the equations to eliminate
the terms in y. Many chose the much harder route of multiplying the second equation by 2
and then subtracting the equations. This method often produced an error in either the
multiplication, e.g. 2x – 6y = 9, and/or the subtraction, e.g. 3y – (–6y) = –3y. Most of the
candidates who were able to find a value in either x or y and were then able to substitute
this value into an equation to find the value of the other variable. Only the best candidates
showed any evidence of checking their answer.

E4. Very few candidates attempted to solve the pair of equations by substitution. Of those
who did, many expanded (3x + 1)2 incorrectly with 9x2 + 1 being the usual error. Correct
expansion of

(3x + 1)2 often led to a good solution but this was rare.

The great majority of the candidature employed trial and improvement techniques which if
partly successful did sometimes lead to one solution; x = –1, y = –2, however this only
ever gained one mark out of the six available.

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E5. Part (a) was answered correctly by almost 60% of the candidates.

Many candidates attempted to solve the simultaneous equations using an algebraic

method instead of using the graphs. Most of these attempts were unsuccessful. Part (b)
was answered correctly by less than half of the candidates. Many who did not give a fully
correct equation were awarded one mark for an equation with either a correct gradient or
a correct intercept.

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