
StudySquare
This page covers the following topics:
1. Linear simultaneous equations by elimination
2. Linear simultaneous equations by substitution
To solve a set of linear equations we find the values of their variables. To do this the method of elimination can be used. In this method first we get rid of one of our variables by adding or subtracting the linear equations from each other. The equations can be multiplied beforehand by scalars if necessary. Combining equations leaves a simpler equation used to find the variable that has been not eliminated. Once the variable is found, its value can be substituted into one of the initial equations to find the second missing variable.

To solve a set of linear equations, the method of substitution can be used, in which we take one of the equations and rearrange it to make one of the variables the subject of the equation. Substituting this expression for the unknown variable into the other equation gives an equation with just one variable. Then we can solve this equation and substitute its solution the into any of the initial equations to find the second unknown variable.

1
3 pears and 2 apples cost £1.50. 2 pears and 4 apples cost £1.40. Find the cost of 1 pear and the cost of 1 apple.
Let the price of an apple be a and of a pear be b.
for the first situation: 2a + 3b = 1.50
for the second situation: 4a + 2b = 1.40
Then rearranging the first equation gives 2a = 1.50 ā 3b.
Substituting this into the second equation gives 2b + 2(1.50 ā 3b) = 1.40.
Expanding the brackets gives 2b + 3.00 ā 6b = 1.40.
Rearranging this gives ā4b = ā1.60 and multiplying this by ā1 gives 4b = 1.60.
Dividing this by 4 gives b = 0.40; therefore, 1 pear costs 40p.
Now substituting b = 0.40 into the equaton for 2a gives 2a = 1.50 ā 1.20.
Thus, 2a = 0.30 which gives a = 0.15 and 1 apple costs 15p.
1 pear costs 40p, 1 apple costs 15p.

2
2 apples and 4 pears cost £2.20. 7 apples and 1 pear cost £1.85. Find the cost of an apple and the cost of a pear by using the method of elimination.
Let the price of an apple be a and the price of pear be p.
This gives the equations 2a + 4p = 2.20 and 7a + p = 1.85.
Multiply the second equation by 4 to get 28a + 4p = 7.40.
Subtract this from the first equation to get ā26a = ā5.20.
a = 0.2
Substituting a = 0.2 into the second equation gives 7 Ć 0.2 + p = 1.85.
p = 0.45.
1 apple costs 20p, 1 pear costs 45p.

3
Solve the following simultaneous equations by using the method of substitution.
4x ā y = ā11
ā2x + 5y = 19
Rearranging the first equation gives y = 4x + 11.
Substituting this into the second equation gives ā2x + 5(4x + 11) = 19.
Expanding the brackets gives ā2x + 20x + 55 = 19.
Simplifying this gives 18x + 55 = 19 and rearranging this gives 18x = ā36 and from this x = ā2.
Now substituting x = ā2 into the equation for y above gives y = 4(ā2) + 11.
After simplifying y = ā8 + 11 which gives y = 3.
x = ā2, y = 3
4
Use the method of elimination to solve the simultaneous equations provided.
5x + 1/2 = y ā 10
2x ā 5 = ā6y ā 6
Multiply the first equation by 6 to give 30x + 3 = 6y ā 60.
Add the second equation to the first equation to give 32x ā 2 = ā66.
Add 2 to both sides of the equation to give 32x = ā64.
Divide both sides by 32 to get x = ā2.
Substitute x = ā2 into the first equation to give ā8.5 = y ā 10.
Add 10 to both sides of the equation to give 1/2 = y.
x = ā2, y = 1/2
5
Using the method of substitution solve the following simultaneous equations.
4x ā 5 = 2y ā 7
ā2x + 3 = 3y ā 4
Rearranging the second equation gives 2x = ā3y + 7.
Substituting this into the first equation gives 2(ā3y + 7) ā 5 = 2y ā 7.
Expanding the brackets gives ā6y + 14 ā 5 = 2y ā 7.
Simplifying this gives ā6y + 9 = 2y ā 7.
Rearranging this gives 8y = 16 and so y = 2.
Substituting this into the equation for 2x above we have 2x = ā3 Ć 2 + 7.
Simplification gives 2x = ā6 + 7 and so 2x = 1 and from this x = 1/2.
x = 0.5, y = 2
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