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Method of Elimination 1

The document explains the method of elimination for solving simultaneous equations, which are systems of equations sharing variables. It provides examples of how to eliminate variables by adding or subtracting equations and demonstrates the process with specific equations. Additionally, it includes practice questions for solving simultaneous equations using the elimination method.

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Sunita Ramjit
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9 views

Method of Elimination 1

The document explains the method of elimination for solving simultaneous equations, which are systems of equations sharing variables. It provides examples of how to eliminate variables by adding or subtracting equations and demonstrates the process with specific equations. Additionally, it includes practice questions for solving simultaneous equations using the elimination method.

Uploaded by

Sunita Ramjit
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS – METHOD OF ELIMINATION

A simultaneous equation is a system of equations that consist of two or more equations that share

variables (x and y).

Example 1: x + y = 6, -3x + y = 2 (share the same variables x and y)

Example 2: y = x2 + 5x -2, y = x + 3, x2 = 5y (y and x are the variables)

Example 3: x + 2y – 3z + 4y = 12, 2x + 2y – 2z + 3w = 10 (x, y, z, w is the variables)

Simultaneous Linear equations may be solved algebraically by:

 The method of Elimination

 The method of Substitution

METHOD OF ELIMINATION

Another way of solving a linear system is to use the elimination method. In the elimination

method you either add or subtract the equations to get an equation in one variable.

When the coefficients of one variable are opposites you add the equations to eliminate a variable

and when the coefficients of one variable are equal you subtract the equations to eliminate a

variable.

Example: Solve for x in the following equation: 2x + 5 = 1

To solve this, we use our algebraic rules.

2x = 10 – 5
2x = 5

x = 5/2 = 2.5.

Now what if we have 2 equations with more than 1 unknown?

Example1: solve using the elimination method for the following simultaneous equation

x + y = 6, -3x + y = 2

This means that equation 1 and equation 2 has a common point of intersection (same x and y

values), and we need to find this point. How are we going to find this?

For elimination you need to look for a variable to be eliminated. We need to take out a variable.

Let us look at our equations. Some equations can be subtracted to take away a variable, however

some equations need to be manipulated by either multiplication or division to get a common

variable on both equations that can be eliminated.

We need to eliminate one variable, let say y!

As we can see to remove y, all we need to do is subtract the two equations.


Let us look at the numbers
separately

X – (-3x) = 4x

Y–y=0

6–2=4

Now we have 4x = 4, therefore x = 1

Since we have one variable, we can plug in our x value into one of the equations above to find

the other variable.


x +y = 6

1 + y = 6, therefore y = 5

Time to verify!

Plug in your x = 1 and y = 5 values into both equations

x+y=6 -3x + y = 2

1+5=6 -3(1) + 5 = 2

6=6 2=2

2x + 3y = 8, 3x + 2y = 7
Example 3: 3x + 2y = 7, 5x + 3y = 37

Questions: Solve for x and y for the following simultaneous equations:

1. 3y + 2x = 6, 5y – 2x = 10

2. 3x+y = 9, 5x+4y = 22

3. 4x + 3y = - 4, 6x – 4y = 11

x+ y 1 x−3 y
4. = , =2
4 2 2

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