Rewriting and Solving Equations
Rewriting and Solving Equations
Rewriting and Solving Equations
Equation: two expressions separated by an equals sign such that what is on the left of the equals sign has the same value as what is on the right Transposition: rearranging an equation so that it can be solved, always keeping what is on the left of the equals sign equal to what is on the right
Substitution
Substitution: to write one expression in place of another Always substitute the whole of the new expression and combine it with the other terms in exactly the same way that the expression it replaces was combined with them It is often helpful to put the expression you are substituting in brackets to ensure this
4
Linear Equations
Slope of a line: distance up divided by distance moved to the right between any two points on the line Coefficient: a value that is multiplied by a variable Intercept: the value at which a function cuts the y axis
5
Representing a Line as y = mx + b
The constant term, b, gives the y intercept The slope of the line is m, the coefficient of x Slope = y/x = (distance up)/(distance to right) Lines with positive slope go up from left to right Lines with negative slope go down from left to right Parameter: a value that is constant for a specific function but that changes to give other functions of the same type; m and b are parameters
y = 18
x 10
0 0
8
25
50
as x increases, y increases
y = -25 + 3x slope = 3
x 20
10
11
12
Simultaneous Equations
Simultaneous equations can usually (but not always) be solved if
number of equations = number of unknowns
13
Once you know the value of one variable, substitute it in the other equation
14