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a. Introduction b. Examples a. Introduction b. Substitution method c. Elimination method
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In the example above, x+y=4 we might have needed to get x = rather than y =. The method is still the same! This time cut n paste the y to the other side: x = 4 y or x = y + 4 is the answer!! This is called Making x the subject
a+xy=6 a+x6=y
Swap left & right sides (no sign changes)
a+xy=6 y=6ax
Now we must have just y, we cant have y so we need to change all the signs:
y = a + x 6 ANSWER !!
y = 6 a x becomes +y = 6 + a + x y = 6 + a + xANS!!
Can you see what was behind Method 1? Getting the y across to the right got rid of the minus sign in front, and made it just y. This is a smart move! Minuses can be a pain!
2p + y = 3x 2p = 3x y
becomes
2 p 3x y = 2 2 2
The reason for doing this division by 2 is so the 2s will cancel and leave you with just p !!
2 p 3x y = 2 2 2 p= 3x y ANSWER!! 2 2 3x y !! 2
Get rid of any fractions first before you do anything else. Remember what to do? There are 3 terms. Theres a 2 in the bottom of the fraction. Multiply everything through by 2 !!
Remember
4ab 2y = 3x
Now we have to get rid of the:
3x 2 = 3x !! 2
2y (use cut n paste because this is connected by a sign) the 4 and the b (use division because these are connected by a sign) Cut n pasting the 2y to the right:
4ab 2y 4ab
= 3x becomes: = 3x + 2y
Dividing by 4b
a =
3x + 2 y .ANSWER 4b
3x 2 y 3x y which equals + + 4b 4b 4b 2b
5w pt x = x
2y x
5w pt
= 2xy
Remember were interested in the t. It has a minus in front. Do you remember our smart trick from before, where we move it across to the right to get rid of the minus?
5w 2xy
= pt
All that now remains is the p to get rid of. Remember because the p is connected to the t by multiplication, we must divide. Divide all 3 terms by p:
5w 2 xy = t .ANSWER! p
a u = y u u
Cancelling the us on the left,
= yu
Remembering we want u alone, we divide both sides by y, because y is connected to u by multiplication.
a y
yu y
a y a y
yu y
= u.ANSWER!!!
t 3p = x 4 + x yp t 3p = 4x + pxy
Now we cut n paste trying to get the p terms together on one side. Lets move the ps to the right (Why??) and the non-ps (t and 4x) to the left.
t 3p = 4x + pxy t 4x = pxy + 3p
Once the ps are together on the right, we factorise. This brings the p out the front, and means we now have only one p present!
t 4x = p(xy + 3)
We now need to get rid of the (xy + 3). This is connected to p by multiplication, so what do we do??? DIVIDE both sides by (xy + 3) !!
t 4x p ( xy + 3) = ( xy + 3) ( xy + 3)
Cancel the (xy + 3) on the right!
t 4x = p .ANSWER!! ( xy + 3)
NoteRight back at the start, had you taken the p terms to the left rather than the right side, you would have ended up with 3p pxy = 4x t p( 3 xy) = 4x t p=
4x t 3 xy
4 xy (3 ay) 3 ay
2pw (3 ay)
Cancel the (3 ay) on the left Expand the right to get rid of the brackets
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Practice Exercises 1
Make the bracketed letter the subject xz y 1. a b = c [a] 9. =4
a
2. 2w + c = d 3. 3a + bd = y 4. 2x + y = ax + c
x =b6 a x t = c a 2x 3 =v a
10. a b = 2x 11. w kw = x + pw
a =k b tx
12.
[x]
5. 6. 7.
8. x = p
u v
ANSWERS
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2. SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS
(a) INTRODUCTION
Sometimes you will have a pair of equations containing two variables (like a and b), and be asked to find the values of the letters that make the equations true. For example, the equations a+b=7 2b a = 5 are both satisfied when a = 3 and b = 4. In fact, a = 3 and b = 4 are the only answers that fit both these equations!
You will note that a = 5, b = 2 certainly fits the first equation, but when we feed these numbers into the second equation, it becomes 22 5 = 5, which of course is not true! So, a = 5, b = 2 is no good (not a solution) because it fits only one of the equations. You can find heaps of numbers like a = 5, b = 2 which will fit only one of the equations, but theyre useless! Were only interested in the numbers that fit both equations, and they are of course, a = 3 and b = 4.
So, we say that a = 3 and b = 4 are the solutions to the simultaneous equations a + b = 7; 2b a = 5. There are two good methods to solving simultaneous equations. The first is called substitution. The second is called elimination.
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Method:
Find a lone letter a letter without a number multiplying it. There are 3 of these here (the a and b in the 1st equation, and the a in the 2nd equation). Make one of these the subject of its equation. Lets pick the a in the top equation:
a+b=7
Use cutnpaste to get a on its own:
a=7b
2b a = 5 now becomes 2b (7 b) = 5
When substituting something with 2 terms like 7 b, its smart to put it in brackets! Youll see why below.
This is now an equation with only one letter! We can solve it!! (See Toolbox 1 if youve forgotten!)
2b (7 b) 2b 7 + b 3b 7 3b b=4
=5 =5 =5 = 12
We have b. Now we need to find a. We know b is 4, so replace b with 4 in either Equation (1) or (2). Equation 1 (the simpler!) becomes a + 4 = 7, and so a=3 Final answer is a = 3, b = 4 !! 13
The Algebra Toolbox 2003 R. Bowman. All rights reserved.
5x + y = 22
Use cutnpaste to get y on its own:
= 22 5x
Why do you think we put the 22 5x in brackets? Because if we dont, we could overlook the sign change (below in blue).
We have x. Now we need to find y. We know x is 5, so replace x with 5 in either Equation (1) or (2). Equation 2 (the simpler!) becomes 5 5 + y = 22 25 + y = 22 y= 3 Final answer is x = 5, y = 3 !!
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3a + 2b = 15
Use cutnpaste to get rid of the 3a:
2b b
= 15 3a
Now divide through by 2
15 3a 2 2
5a + 4b = 26 now becomes 5a + 4(
15 3a ) = 26 2 2
Expand the brackets & cancel the fractions
4(
5a + 30 6a = 26 30 a a a a a=4 = 26 = 26 30 = 4 = 4
= 2 15 = 30 6a
15 3a ) 2 2 15 3a =4 4 2 2
2 3a
We have a. Now we need to find b. We know a is 4, so replace a with 4 in either Equation (1) or (2). Equation 1 becomes 3 4 + 2b = 15 12 + 2b = 15 2b = 15 12 2b = 3 b =1 Final answer is a = 4, b = 1 !! 15
The Algebra Toolbox 2003 R. Bowman. All rights reserved.
The trick here is to make the numbers in front of one of the letters match, and have opposite signs. Watch what happens: We are going to double Equation 1 right through:
6a + 4b = 30 5a 4b = 14
What do you notice about these 2 equations? The key: the numbers in front of b are now the same, with opposite signs. This is what we want to try to aim for!
Once we have done this, we now work with the new equations, Equation (3) and Equation (2).
Now feed a = 4 into any of the Equations (1), (2) or (3) to find b. (Ill choose Equation (1) because the b has a 2 in front of it (smaller is easier!)
We want make the numbers in front of one of the letters match, and have opposite signs. Lets choose the a terms, because their numbers are smaller overall than those in front of the bs.
The as have a 2 and a 3 in front. How can I make them the same number?
2a + 3b = 9 3a + 4b = 11
We can turn a 2 and a 3 both into a 6 easily (2 and 3 can be multiplied to make 6)
2a + 3b = 9 3a + 4b = 11
6a + 9b = 27 6a + 8b = 22
What do you notice about these 2 equations? The numbers in front of a are now the same, but we need opposite signs (so the numbers will cancel when we add). So change all the signs in one of the equations (doesnt matter which one).
6a + 9b 6a 8b
= 27 = 22
9b + 8b = 9b 8b = 1b 27 + 22 = 27 22 = +5
0+b b
=5 =5 =9 =9 = 9 15 = 6 = 3 ..FINAL ANSWER a = 3 , b = 5
The Algebra Toolbox 2003 R. Bowman. All rights reserved.
2a + 3b 2a + 15 2a 2a a 17
Elimination
Rearrange the equations so the xs, ys and numbers (the 9 and the 12) are aligned vertically:
x=y9
Substitute this into Equation (2)
xy= 9 x + 2y = 12
(Did you follow how the top equation came about? the 9 and the y were cut n pasted) Now noticing the xs both already match (number in front of each is 1), all we have to do is a sign swap on one of the equations. Lets change all signs in Eq (1):
x + 2y = 12 becomes (y 9) + 2y = 12
Tidy up by collecting y terms
3y 9 = 12 3y = 21 y=7
Substitute y = 7 into Equation 1 (or 2)
x+y= 9 x + 2y = 12
Now add:
0 + 3y = 21 3y = 21 y=7
Feed this into either equation up top
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So how do I know which method to use? The general rule is: If there is a letter on its own, then its usually easiest to make that letter the subject and use substitution, as in Examples 1, 2 and 3. If theres no letter on its own, then elimination is usually the best method, as in Examples 4 and 5. Sometimes youll have a choice, in which case its best to use the method youre most comfortable with!!
Practice Exercises 2
Solve these pairs of simultaneous equations. Use either method. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 x+y=8 xy=2 xy=2 2y = x + 1 3 = 2x + y 4x + 6 = 10y xy=2 3x + y = 10 2x y = 6 3x + y = 14 x+y=5 4x + y = 14 2x + 3y = 23 x + 3y = 22 c + 2d = 6 9c + 2d = 54 9
Remember to rearrange! See Ex 6 Remember to rearrange! See Ex 6
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
x+y=6 xy=1 3x 5y = 13 2x + 5y = 8 y=x2 Remember to rearrange! See Ex 6 x = 2y 1 Remember to y=6x rearrange! See Ex 6 2x + y = 8 10x + 3y = 12 3x + 5y = 20 3x + 4y = 15 3x + 2y = 12 2x + 3y = 8 2x + y = 4 3a 5b = 3 4a 5b = 1
ANSWERS
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cut n paste the x from the left to the right (becomes + x) divide all 3 terms by 2
x 7 + 2 2
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(7) x =
ANSWERS Exercise 2 (in alphabetical order x first, then y) (1) 5 & 3 (7) 1 & 7 (13) 0 & 4 (2) 5 & 3 (8) 6 & 0 (14) 3 & 1 (3) 1 & 1 (4) 3 & 1 (9) 3 & 2 (10) 1 & 2 (15) 1 & 2 (16) 4 & 3 (5) 4 & 2 (11) 5 & 3 (6) 3 & 2 (12) 2 & 4
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