Simultaneous Equations: Methods of Solving
This lesson note explains how to solve a system of simultaneous equations using three methods: elimination, substitution, and graphical. Each method is broken down into simple, step‑by‑step worked examples.
1. Elimination Method
In the elimination method, you multiply (if needed) and add or subtract equations to cancel one variable.
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Example 1:
Equations: 2x + 3y = 13 and 3x - 2y = 4.
1. Multiply the first equation by 2 and the second by 3 to obtain:
→ 4x + 6y = 26 and 9x - 6y = 12.
2. Add the equations: 4x + 9x = 13x and 26 + 12 = 38.
3. Solve: 13x = 38, so x = 38/13 ≈ 2.92.
4. Substitute x back into one equation to find y.
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Example 2:
Equations: 4x - y = 7 and 2x + y = 3.
1. Add the two equations: (4x - y) + (2x + y) = 7 + 3,
giving 6x = 10.
2. Solve: x = 10/6 = 5/3.
3. Substitute x back to solve for y.
2. Substitution Method
In the substitution method, solve one equation for one variable and then substitute that expression into the other equation.
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Example 3:
Equations: y = 2x - 1 and 3x + y = 9.
1. Substitute y = 2x - 1 into 3x + y = 9.
2. This gives 3x + (2x - 1) = 9 → 5x - 1 = 9.
3. Solve: 5x = 10, so x = 2.
4. Then y = 2(2) - 1 = 3.
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Example 4:
Equations: y = x + 3 and 2x + 3y = 18.
1. Substitute y = x + 3 into 2x + 3(x + 3) = 18.
2. Simplify: 2x + 3x + 9 = 18 → 5x + 9 = 18.
3. Solve: 5x = 9, so x = 9/5; then y = 9/5 + 3.
3. Graphical Method
In the graphical method, plot each equation on a coordinate plane. The point where the lines intersect is the solution to the system.
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Example 5:
Equations: y = 2x + 1 and y = -x + 4.
1. Plot y = 2x + 1 (slope = 2, y–intercept = 1).
2. Plot y = -x + 4 (slope = -1, y–intercept = 4).
3. The intersection point of these lines gives the solution.
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Example 6:
Equations: y = x - 2 and y = -2x + 5.
1. Plot y = x - 2 (slope = 1, y–intercept = -2).
2. Plot y = -2x + 5 (slope = -2, y–intercept = 5).
3. The intersection of these graphs is the solution.
Simultaneous Equations: Word Problem Examples
This section models real-life problems with simultaneous equations and shows how to solve them using the methods above.
Worked Examples
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Example 7 (Elimination):
Problem: A school sold 80 tickets for a play. Adult tickets cost ₦500 and child tickets cost ₦300. Total revenue was ₦34,000. Find the number of each ticket sold.
1. Let x = adult tickets and y = child tickets.
2. Equation 1: x + y = 80.
3. Equation 2: 500x + 300y = 34,000.
4. Multiply Equation 1 by 300: 300x + 300y = 24,000.
5. Subtract: (500x - 300x) = 10,000, so 200x = 10,000, hence x = 50.
6. Then, y = 80 - 50 = 30.
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Example 8 (Substitution):
Problem: The sum of two numbers is 36, and the larger is 4 more than twice the smaller. Find the numbers.
1. Let the smaller number = x and the larger = y.
2. Equation 1: x + y = 36.
3. Equation 2: y = 2x + 4.
4. Substitute Equation 2 into Equation 1: x + 2x + 4 = 36.
5. Solve: 3x = 32, so x ≈ 10.67; then y ≈ 25.33.
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Example 9 (Graphical):
Problem: A restaurant orders 50 fruits (apples and oranges). Apples cost ₦200 each and oranges ₦150 each. Total cost is ₦9,250. Find the quantities.
1. Let x = apples and y = oranges.
2. Equation 1: x + y = 50.
3. Equation 2: 200x + 150y = 9,250.
4. Multiply Equation 1 by 150: 150x + 150y = 7,500.
5. Subtract: 50x = 1,750, so x = 35; then y = 50 - 35 = 15.
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Example 10 (Elimination):
Problem: Two numbers differ by 12 and sum to 60. Find them.
1. Let the numbers be x and y (x > y).
2. Equation 1: x - y = 12.
3. Equation 2: x + y = 60.
4. Add the equations: 2x = 72, so x = 36; then y = 60 - 36 = 24.
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Example 11 (Substitution):
Problem: 3 pens and 2 pencils cost ₦1,200; 2 pens and 4 pencils cost ₦1,000. Find the cost of a pen.
1. Let p = cost of a pen and q = cost of a pencil.
2. Equation 1: 3p + 2q = 1200.
3. Equation 2: 2p + 4q = 1000.
4. Divide Equation 2 by 2: p + 2q = 500.
5. Subtract from Equation 1: 2p = 700, so p = 350.
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