•Chapter 3: Simultaneous Equations

Worked Example 3.1. Figure 3.1

 Solve 2 equations in two unknowns algebraically

Slides 2, 3, 4

 Solve 2 equations in two unknowns graphically

Slides 5 - 14

Copyright©2001 Teresa Bradley and John Wiley & Sons Ltd 1

 Solve Two Equations, Two Unknowns
Worked Example 3.1
Given the simultaneous equations,
x  3y  4 ... (1)

 x  2y  6 ... (2)

(a) Solve for x and y algebraically.

(b) Solve for x and y graphically.

Copyright©2001 Teresa Bradley and John Wiley & Sons Ltd 2

 Solve Algebraically

Add equations (1) and (2) to eliminate x, hence solve for y

x  3y  4 ... (1)
x  2y  6 ... (2)
0  5 y  10 ... adding
10
y 2 ... solving for y
5

Copyright©2001 Teresa Bradley and John Wiley & Sons Ltd 3

 Now that y is known, solve for x
Substitute y = 2 into either equation (1) or equation (2),
then solve for x

 x  2(2)  6 ... substituting y  2 into (2)

 x  64
x  2

 Solution x = -2, y = 2

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 Solve simultaneous equations graphically
Method:
Step 1
Scale both axes so that the graph (-2, 2)
will show the point of
intersection of the two lines
Step 2 3

2
Plot both lines.
Step 3 1

Read the coordinates of the point -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5

of intersection of the two lines. -1

This is the solution -2

Figure 3.1

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 Step 1:Scale and label axis
The solution of the simultaneous equations has been found algebraically
 solution at x = - 2, y = 2. Therefore
 choose an interval along the x-axis which includes the point x = -2
 choose an interval along the y-axis which includes the point y = 2
 In this example the intervals selected were:
 x = - 7 to 4 on the x-axis and y = -2 to 6 on the y-axis
y
4
3

1
x
-7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4
-1

-2

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 Step 2:Plot line (1): x + 3y = 4
• To draw the line, calculate and join, any two points.
• In this example, the points of intersection with the axes are
at
• (x = 4, y = 0) on the x-axis
• (x = 0, y = 4/3) on the y-axis
y

4
3 y = 4/3
2
x=4
1

x
-7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
-1

-2

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 Label line (1): x + 3y = 4

2
x + 3y = 4
1
0 x
-7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
-1

-2

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 Step 2: Plot line (2): -x + 2y = 6
(on same graph as line (1))

• To draw line (2), calculate and join, any two points.

• horizontal intercept (x = - 6, y = 0) and
• vertical intercept (x = 0, y = 3)

y
x = 0, y = 3
3

x = - 6, y = 0 2

1 x + 3y = 4
-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 x
-1

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 Label line (2): -x + 2y = 6

y
-x + 2y = 6

1
x+3y = 4
0
-7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 x
-1

-2

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 Step 3:
State the point of intersection of the two lines

y -x + 2y = 6

1
x+3y = 4
0
-7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 x
-1

-2

Copyright©2001 Teresa Bradley and John Wiley & Sons Ltd 11

 Step 3:
State the point of intersection of the two lines

y -x + 2y = 6

1
x+3y = 4
0
-7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 x
-1

-2

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 The solution is the coordinates of the point of
intersection: x = -2, y = 2

y -x + 2y = 6

1
x+3y = 4
0
-7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 x
-1

-2

Copyright©2001 Teresa Bradley and John Wiley & Sons Ltd 13

 Solution
 Algebraically, solution is  Graphically, solution is at
at x = -2, y = 2 x = -2, y = 2

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