Section 3-2 SOLVING SYSTEMS OF EQUATIONS ALGEBRAICALLY

Substitution method- one equation is solved for one variable in terms of the other. Then, this expression is
substituted for the variable in the other equation.

Example 1 Use substitution to solve the system of equations

x = 2y = 8
½ x – y = 18

1st- Solve the first equation for x. that is. Have “x” by itself on one side.

2nd – Replace your new equation “x” in the second equation. Solve for y.

3rd- Replace the value of “y” in either equation to find the value of x.

ST2 (try on your own) ST3

Solve the system by substitution. Solve the system by substitution.

4c + 2d = 10 y = 3x -4
c + 3d = 10 y=4+x
Elimination method- using this method, you eliminate one of the variables by adding or subtracting the
equations. When you two true equations, the result is a new equations that is also true.

Example 4 Use elimination to solve the system of equations.

4a + 2b = 15
2a + 2b = 7

1st- We want to eliminate one of the variables either a or b. Look for the variables that have the same
coefficients, that variable will be the one you want to get rid off first.
2nd – Subtract the equations, eliminating the variable b and leaving the variable a = to some constant.
3rd- solve for the variable a.
4th- Plug the value you obtained for a in either of the original equations and solve for b. FINISHED!

Example 5 ST5

Solve the system by elimination Same directions

3x – 7y = -14 2r + 2s = 6

5x + 2y = 45 2r – 3s = 11