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Simultaneous Equations

University Mathematics I: Olaniyi Evans

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53 views3 pages

Simultaneous Equations

University Mathematics I: Olaniyi Evans

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Olaniyi Evans
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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7

SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS

CONTENTS
System of Equations in 2 Variables 58
Elimination Method 58
Substitution Method 59
Graphical Method 60
Linear-Quadratic System of Equations 62
System of Equations in 3 Variables 64
Word Problems on Simultaneous Equations 66

S Y S T E M O F E Q U A T I O N S I N 2 V A R I A B LE S
Simultaneous equations refer to a set of two or more algebraic equations that
involve the same variables and are solved at the same time. Consider the
following example:
𝑥+𝑦=1 𝑥−𝑦=5
For this set of equations, there is a single combination of values of x and y that
satisfies both: 𝑥 = 3, 𝑦 = −2.
Several algebraic techniques exist to solve simultaneous equations. Perhaps the
easiest to understand are the elimination, substitution and graphical methods.

Elimination Method
STEPS: • Make the coefficients of one variable equal.
• Add or subtract the equations to eliminate a variable.
• Solve for the remaining variable.
• Substitute back into an original equation.

 EXAMPLE 7.1
Solve 4𝑥 − 3𝑦 = −2 and 𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 7 simultaneously.
S O L U T I O N tips
Add the two equations together to eliminate the y term.
4𝑥 − 3𝑦 = −2
𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 7 Add
5𝑥 =5
Divide both sides by 5: 𝑥 = 1
To find the value of y, substitute 𝑥 = 1 into one of the original equations.
𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 7 → 1 + 3𝑦 = 7
6
3𝑦 = 7 − 1 = 6 → 𝑦= =2
3
So 𝑥 = 1 and 𝑦 = 2

CHECK:
You can substitute the values of x and y into both equations to check your
answers.
Equation (i): 4 (1) − 3(2) = −2 YES
Equation (ii): 1 + 3(2) = 7 YES
Chapter 7| Simultaneous Equations 59

 EXAMPLE 7.2
Solve the equations
3 5
𝑥 + 𝑦 = 1 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 3
2 4
S O L U T I O N tips
To eliminate the y term, multiply the first equation by 8 and the second equation
by 12; then subtract the first equation from the second.
3 ×8
𝑥 + 𝑦 = 1 → 8𝑥 + 12𝑦 = 8 Subtract
2
5 ×12
𝑥 + 𝑦 = 3 → 15𝑥 + 12𝑦 = 36
4
7𝑥 = 28
Divide both sides by 7: 𝑥 = 4
To find the value of y, substitute 𝑥 = 4 into one of the original equations.
5 5
𝑥 + 𝑦 = 3 → (4) + 𝑦 = 3 → 𝑦 = 3 − 5 = −2
4 4
So 𝑥 = 4 and 𝑦 = −2

 EXAMPLE 7.3
Solve the following system of equations: −100𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 12 and 5𝑥 − 5𝑦 = −20.
S O L U T I O N tips
To eliminate the y term:
×5
−100𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 12 → −500𝑥 + 15𝑦 = 60
×3
5𝑥 − 5𝑦 = −20 → 15𝑥 − 15𝑦 = −60 Add
−485𝑥 =0
Thus, 𝑥 = 0.
Substitute 𝑥 = 0 in one of the original equations:
12
−100𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 12 → −100(0) + 3𝑦 = 12 → 𝑦= =4
3
So, 𝑥 = 0, 𝑦 = 4.

S u b st i t u t i o n M e t h o d
STEPS: • Solve one equation for a variable.
• Substitute into the other equation.
• Solve the resulting equation.
• Back-substitute into the first equation.

 EXAMPLE 7.4
Solve the simultaneous equations 0.3𝑥 – 0.4𝑦 = 0.5 and 0.7𝑥 – 1.1𝑦 = 1.0
S O L U T I O N tips
Rearrange the first equation.
0.5 + 0.4𝑦
𝑥= (i)
0.3
Substitute equation (i) in the second equation.
0.5 + 0.4𝑦
0.7 ( ) – 1.1𝑦 = 1.0
0.3
Multiply through by 0.3 and simplify.
0.35 + 0.28𝑦 − 0.33𝑦 = 0.3
−0.05𝑦 = −0.05 → 𝑦=1
To find the value of x, substitute y = 1 into equation (i).
0.5 + 0.4(1) 0.9
𝑥= = =3
0.3 0.3
So 𝑥 = 3 and 𝑦 = 1
60 Olaniyi Evans | University Mathematics

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