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MATHEMATICS

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Title: Simultaneous equations and the method of


substitution.

Target: On completion of this worksheet you should be able to solve


quadratic and linear simultaneous equations by substitution.

It is impossible to solve some pairs of equations by  8 − 2s 


2  − 4 s = 16 .
elimination.  3 
Then solve, expanding the brackets carefully!
Example. 16 − 4 s
− 4 s = 16 [+4 s ]
3x + y = 11 and x2 + 2y2 = 59. 3
16 − 4 s
⇒ = 16 + 4 s [×3]
We therefore have an alternative method- the 3
method of substitution. ⇒16 − 4 s = 48 +12 s [ +4 s ]
⇒16 = 48 +16 s [−48 ]
As with elimination the method of substitution ⇒ −32 = 16 s [÷16 ]
reduces the two equations to one equation with one ⇒ −2 = s.
unknown. Then we substitute this value of s into one of the
To apply the method of substitution we should: original equations to obtain the full solution,
• Rearrange one equation to make one of the 3r – 4 = 8.
unknowns the subject. Hence r = 4.
• Substitute the expression for this unknown into
the other equation.

Example. Exercise.
Solve the simultaneous equations: Solve the following pairs of simultaneous
3r + 2s = 8 and 2r – 4s = 16. equations using the method of substitution.

First name the equations to avoid confusion. 1. a + b = 7, 2a + 3b =18.


 3r + 2s = 8 2. s + 2t = 14, 3s – t = 0.
 2r - 4s =16. 3. 2a − 3b = 0, 3a – 2b = 5.
4. 4w –3t = 34, 2t +3w = 17.
Rearrange  to make r the subject. 5. 7p + 6 = 2r, 3r – 2p = 26.
3r + 2s = 8 [−2 s] 6. z+2l-13= 7, 3z –2l = -4.
⇒ 3r = 8 − 2s [÷3]
8 − 2s (Answers: a=3, b=4; s= 2, t=6; a=3, b=2;
⇒r = . w=7, t=-2; p=2, r=10; z=4, l=8.)
3

Substitute into  . Use brackets to avoid mistakes.


 8 − 2s  This method may appear to be more complicated
2  − 4 s = 16 .
 3  than elimination but it enables us to solve non-
 linear simultaneous equations.

C. Leech, Coventry University, June 2000.


Whenever there are indices involved in Exercise.
simultaneous equations we should solve them by Solve the following pairs of simultaneous
substitution. We must be careful when we expand equations.
our brackets. We should always write an
expression out in full in order to avoid confusion. x − 2 y =1
1. x 2 − 3 xy + 2 y 2 = 4.

When we solve a linear equation and a quadratic 3x + 2 y = 8


2. 3 x 2 − y 2 =11 .
equation by substitution we should always first
rearrange the linear equation.
x − y =5
3.
Example. 2 xy − y 2 = 56 .
Solve the following equations simultaneously.
x 2 + 3 xy + y 2 = 31 2x +3 y = 8
2 x − y = 1.
4. x 2 − xy + y 2 = 3.

First name the equations. (Answers: x=7, y=3; x=2, y=1 and x=-18, y=31;
 x 2 + 3 xy + y 2 = 31 x=9, y=4 and x=-9, y= -14;
 2 x − y =1. x=1, y=2 and x=1.947, y=1.368.)
Rearrange  to make y the subject.
y = 2 x −1. 
Substitute into  .
x 2 + 3 x(2 x −1) + (2 x −1) 2 .
Solve.
x 2 + 6 x 2 − 3 x + (2 x − 1)( 2 x − 1) = 31
⇒ 7 x 2 − 3x + 4 x 2 − 4 x + 1 = 31
⇒ 11x 2 − 7 x + 1 = 31 [−31]
⇒ 11x − 7 x − 30 = 0
2

⇒ (11x + 15)( x − 2) = 0
15
⇒x=− , x = 2.
11
For each of these solutions we now need to find
the value of y.
15
Substituting x = − into  gives
11
 15 
y = 2 ×  −  −1 =
 11 
30
⇒y =− −1
11
41
⇒y =− .
11
Similarly substituting x = 2 into gives y = 3.
(Check this for yourself.)

C. Leech, Coventry University, June 2000.

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