Tracking B

Simultaneous Equations Grade B

By the end of this lesson you will:

- solve simultaneous equations
Key words: simultaneous equation, elimination, co-efficient

Challenge:
x + y = 8 and 2x + y = 13
What are x and y?

HINT: if you don’t know a method, then try substitution!

 There are 3 methods…
1. Graphical
2. Elimination
3. Substitution
 4x + y = 17 and 2x + y = 9
4x + y = 17 (1)
2x + y = 9 (2)

(1) – (2)
2x = 8
x = 4 and y = 1
 3x + 2y = 16 and x – 2y = 4
3x + 2y = 16 (1)
x – 2y = 4 (2)

(1) + (2)
4x = 20
x = 5 and y = 0.5
 x + 2y = 5 and 2x + 3y = 8
x + 2y = 5 (1)
2x + 3y = 8 (2)

Make the x co-efficients the same (ie. Multiply

the first equation by 2)
2x + 4y = 10 (1)
2x + 3y = 8 (2)

(1) – (2)
y = 2 and x = 1
 General Rules
1. Make either the x or the y
co-efficients the same

2. Same signs? SUBTRACT

Different signs? ADD

3. Solve for x and y

 Try it for yourself
Exercise 5J, page 99
 Graphical Solution of Simultaneous Equations
y
10
Use the graphs to solve
x + 2y = 14 9 the following
8 simultaneous equations.
7

2x + y = -8 6 x–y=2 1. x - y = 2 and 2x + y = - 8
5

4
x = -2, y = - 4
3
2
2. x + 2y = 14 and y = x + 7
1
x = 0, y = 7
-10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 x
y =x+7
-1
3. y = 3x - 10 and x – y = 2
-2
-3 x = 4, y = 2
-4
y = 3x - 10
-5 4. 2x + y = - 8 and y = x + 7
-6
-7
x = -5, y = 2
-8
-9
5. y = x + 7 and x + 2y = 14
-10
x = 0, y = 7