Solving Systems of Equations Notes

Solving Systems of Equations (Simultaneous
Equations)
If you have two different equations with the same two unknowns in
each, you can solve for both unknowns. There are three common
methods for solving: addition/subtraction, substitution, and graphing.
Addition/subtraction method
This method is also known as the elimination method.
To use the addition/subtraction method, do the following:
1. Multiply one or both equations by some number(s) to make the

number in front of one of the letters (unknowns) the same or
exactly the opposite in each equation.
2. Add or subtract the two equations to eliminate one letter.
3. Solve for the remaining unknown.
4. Solve for the other unknown by inserting the value of the
unknown found in one of the original equations.
Example 1
Solve for x and y.
Adding the equations eliminates the y‐terms.
Now inserting 5 for x in the first equation gives the following:

Answer: x = 5, y = 2
By replacing each x with a 5 and each y with a 2 in the original

equations, you can see that each equation will be made true.
In Example and Example , a unique answer existed for x and y that

made each sentence true at the same time. In some situations you do
not get unique answers or you get no answers. You need to be aware
of these when you use the addition/subtraction method.
Example 2
Solve for x and y.
First multiply the bottom equation by 3. Now the y is preceded by a 3

in each equation.
The equations can be subtracted, eliminating the y terms.

Insert x = 5 in one of the original equations to solve for y.
Answer: x = 5, y = 3
Of course, if the number in front of a letter is already the same in each

equation, you do not have to change either equation. Simply add or
subtract.
To check the solution, replace each x in each equation with 5 and

replace each y in each equation with 3.
Example 3
Solve for a and b.
Multiply the top equation by 2. Notice what happens.
Now if you were to subtract one equation from the other, the result is
0 = 0.
This statement is always true.
When this occurs, the system of equations does not have a unique
solution. In fact, any a and b replacement that makes one of the
equations true, also makes the other equation true. For example,
if a = –6 and b = 5, then both equations are made true.
[3(– 6) + 4(5) = 2 AND 6(– 6) + 8(5) = 4]
What we have here is really only one equation written in two different
ways. In this case, the second equation is actually the first equation
multiplied by 2. The solution for this situation is either of the original
equations or a simplified form of either equation.
Example 4
Solve for x and y.
Multiply the top equation by 2. Notice what happens.
Now if you were to subtract the bottom equation from the top
equation, the result is 0 = 1. This statement is never true. When this
occurs, the system of equations has no solution.
In Examples 1–4, only one equation was multiplied by a number to get

the numbers in front of a letter to be the same or opposite. Sometimes
each equation must be multiplied by different numbers to get the
numbers in front of a letter to be the same or opposite.
Solve for x and y.
Notice that there is no simple number to multiply either equation with
to get the numbers in front of x or y to become the same or
opposites. In this case, do the following:
1. Select a letter to eliminate.

2. Use the two numbers to the left of this letter. Find the least
common multiple of this value as the desired number to be in
front of each letter.
3. Determine what value each equation needs to be multiplied by to
obtain this value and multiply the equation by that number.
Suppose you want to eliminate x. The least common multiple of 3 and

5, the number in front of the x, is 15. The first equation must be
multiplied by 5 in order to get 15 in front of x. The second equation
must be multiplied by 3 in order to get 15 in front of x.
Now subtract the second equation from the first equation to get the
following:
At this point, you can either replace y with and solve

for x (method 1 that follows), or start with the original two equations
and eliminate y in order to solve for x (method 2 that follows).
Method 1
Using the top equation: Replace y with and solve for x.

Method 2
Eliminate y and solve for x.
The least common multiple of 4 and 6 is 12. Multiply the top equation
by 3 and the bottom equation by 2.
Now add the two equations to eliminate y.
The solution is x = 1 and .

Solving Systems of Equations Notes

Uploaded by

Solving Systems of Equations Notes

Uploaded by

Solving Systems of Equations (Simultaneous

This method is also known as the elimination method.

To use the addition/subtraction method, do the following:

1. Multiply one or both equations by some number(s) to make the

Adding the equations eliminates the y‐terms.

Now inserting 5 for x in the first equation gives the following:

By replacing each x with a 5 and each y with a 2 in the original

In Example and Example , a unique answer existed for x and y that

First multiply the bottom equation by 3. Now the y is preceded by a 3

The equations can be subtracted, eliminating the y terms.

Of course, if the number in front of a letter is already the same in each

To check the solution, replace each x in each equation with 5 and

Multiply the top equation by 2. Notice what happens.

[3(– 6) + 4(5) = 2 AND 6(– 6) + 8(5) = 4]

Multiply the top equation by 2. Notice what happens.

In Examples 1–4, only one equation was multiplied by a number to get

1. Select a letter to eliminate.

Suppose you want to eliminate x. The least common multiple of 3 and

At this point, you can either replace y with and solve

Using the top equation: Replace y with and solve for x.

Eliminate y and solve for x.

Now add the two equations to eliminate y.

The solution is x = 1 and .

You might also like