Detailed Explanation of Simultaneous Equations

Simultaneous equations (also known as system of equations) are a set of two or more
equations that share common variables. The goal is to find the values of the variables that satisfy
all the equations in the system at the same time. The values that solve the system are called the
solution.

For example, consider the following system of equations:

1) 2x+3y=102) x−y=1\begin{aligned} 1) \, & 2x + 3y = 10 \\ 2) \, & x - y = 1 \end{aligned}1)2)

2x+3y=10x−y=1

The solution to this system would be a pair of values for xxx and yyy that satisfy both equations
simultaneously.

Types of Simultaneous Equations

Simultaneous equations can be classified based on the type of system:

1. Linear Simultaneous Equations: These are systems where each equation is linear. That
is, the variables appear only to the first power and are not multiplied by each other. For
example, 2x+3y=102x + 3y = 102x+3y=10 is a linear equation.
2. Non-linear Simultaneous Equations: These involve at least one equation that is non-
linear, meaning that one or more of the variables are raised to a power other than 1, or
they are multiplied together. For example, a system involving x2+y2=25x^2 + y^2 =
25x2+y2=25 is non-linear.

In this explanation, we'll focus on solving linear simultaneous equations, which are the most
commonly encountered.

Methods for Solving Simultaneous Equations

There are several methods to solve simultaneous linear equations:

1. Substitution Method

The substitution method involves solving one equation for one variable, then substituting that
expression into the other equation.

Steps:

1. Solve one of the equations for one of the variables in terms of the others.
2. Substitute this expression into the other equation.
3. Solve the resulting equation for the second variable.
 4. Substitute the value of the second variable back into the first equation to find the first
variable.

Example: Consider the system:

1) 2x+3y=102) x−y=1\begin{aligned} 1) \, 2x + 3y &= 10 \\ 2) \, x - y &= 1 \

end{aligned}1)2x+3y2)x−y=10=1

 Step 1: Solve the second equation for xxx in terms of yyy: x−y=1 ⟹ x=y+1x - y = 1 \
implies x = y + 1x−y=1⟹x=y+1
 Step 2: Substitute x=y+1x = y + 1x=y+1 into the first equation 2x+3y=102x + 3y =

Step 3: Simplify and solve for yyy: 2y+2+3y=10 ⟹ 5y+2=10 ⟹ 5y=8 ⟹ y=852y +
102x+3y=10: 2(y+1)+3y=102(y + 1) + 3y = 102(y+1)+3y=10

2 + 3y = 10 \implies 5y + 2 = 10 \implies 5y = 8 \implies y = \frac{8}
{5}2y+2+3y=10⟹5y+2=10⟹5y=8⟹y=58
 Step 4: Substitute y=85y = \frac{8}{5}y=58 back into the equation x=y+1x = y +
1x=y+1 to find xxx: x=85+1=85+55=135x = \frac{8}{5} + 1 = \frac{8}{5} + \frac{5}
{5} = \frac{13}{5}x=58+1=58+55=513

So, the solution is x=135x = \frac{13}{5}x=513 and y=85y = \frac{8}{5}y=58.

2. Elimination Method

The elimination method involves adding or subtracting the equations in such a way that one of
the variables cancels out. This method is often faster than substitution if the equations are set up
well.

Steps:

1. Multiply or divide the equations, if necessary, so that the coefficients of one variable are
the same (or negatives of each other).
2. Add or subtract the equations to eliminate one variable.
3. Solve for the remaining variable.
4. Substitute the value of the remaining variable into one of the original equations to find
the other variable.

Example: Consider the system:

1) 2x+3y=102) x−y=1\begin{aligned} 1) \, 2x + 3y &= 10 \\ 2) \, x - y &= 1 \

end{aligned}1)2x+3y2)x−y=10=1

 Step 1: Multiply the second equation by 2 so that the coefficient of xxx matches the first
equation:
 2(x−y)=2 ⟹ 2x−2y=22(x - y) = 2 \implies 2x - 2y = 22(x−y)=2⟹2x−2y=2

Now, the system is:

1) 2x+3y=102) 2x−2y=2\begin{aligned} 1) \, 2x + 3y &= 10 \\ 2) \, 2x - 2y &= 2 \

end{aligned}1)2x+3y2)2x−2y=10=2

 Step 2: Subtract the second equation from the first equation to eliminate xxx:

(2x+3y)−(2x−2y)=10−2 ⟹ 5y=8(2x + 3y) - (2x - 2y) = 10 - 2 \implies 5y = 8(2x+3y)

−(2x−2y)=10−2⟹5y=8

 Step 3: Solve for yyy:

y=85y = \frac{8}{5}y=58

 Step 4: Substitute y=85y = \frac{8}{5}y=58 back into one of the original equations, say
x−y=1x - y = 1x−y=1, to find xxx:

x−85=1 ⟹ x=1+85=55+85=135x - \frac{8}{5} = 1 \implies x = 1 + \frac{8}{5} = \

frac{5}{5} + \frac{8}{5} = \frac{13}{5}x−58=1⟹x=1+58=55+58=513

So, the solution is x=135x = \frac{13}{5}x=513 and y=85y = \frac{8}{5}y=58.

3. Graphical Method

The graphical method involves plotting both equations on a graph and finding the point of
intersection. The point of intersection corresponds to the solution of the system of equations.

Steps:

1. Rewrite each equation in slope-intercept form y=mx+by = mx + by=mx+b (if possible).

2. Plot both equations on the same graph.
3. The point where the lines intersect is the solution to the system of equations.

Example: For the system:

1) 2x+3y=102) x−y=1\begin{aligned} 1) \, 2x + 3y &= 10 \\ 2) \, x - y &= 1 \

end{aligned}1)2x+3y2)x−y=10=1

o 2x+3y=10 ⟹ y=−23x+1032x + 3y = 10 \implies y = -\frac{2}{3}x + \frac{10}

 Rewrite both equations in slope-intercept form:

o x−y=1 ⟹ y=x−1x - y = 1 \implies y = x - 1x−y=1⟹y=x−1

{3}2x+3y=10⟹y=−32x+310
  Plot these two lines on a graph and find the point of intersection.

The point where the lines intersect gives the solution to the system, which should be x=135x = \
frac{13}{5}x=513 and y=85y = \frac{8}{5}y=58.

4. Matrix Method (Using Augmented Matrix)

For systems with more than two variables, the matrix method (or Gaussian elimination) can be
used. The system of equations is written as an augmented matrix, and then you perform row
operations to solve the system.

Steps:

1. Write the system of equations as an augmented matrix.

2. Use row operations to reduce the matrix to row echelon form or reduced row echelon
form.
3. Back-substitute to find the solution.

For example, for the system:

1) 2x+3y=102) x−y=1\begin{aligned} 1) \, 2x + 3y &= 10 \\ 2) \, x - y &= 1 \

end{aligned}1)2x+3y2)x−y=10=1

The augmented matrix is:

(23∣101−1∣1)\begin{pmatrix} 2 & 3 & | & 10 \\ 1 & -1 & | & 1 \end{pmatrix}(213−1∣∣101)

By performing row operations, you can reduce the matrix and back-substitute to find the values
of xxx and yyy.

Types of Solutions in Simultaneous Equations

1. Unique Solution: When the system has exactly one solution. This occurs when the two
lines (in the case of linear equations) intersect at exactly one point.
2. No Solution: When the system has no solution. This occurs when the lines are parallel
(i.e., the system is inconsistent).
3. Infinite Solutions: When the system has infinitely many solutions. This occurs when the
two equations represent the same line (i.e., the system is dependent).