1 Solving simultaneous equations by elimination
One way of solving simultaneous equations is by elimination . As the name implies, elimination, involves removing one or more of the unknowns. Note that if both sides of an equation are multiplied or divided by a non-zero number an exactly equivalent equation results. For example, if we are given the equation
[maths rendering]
then by multiplying both sides by 7 we find
[maths rendering]
and this modified equation is equivalent to the original one.
Given two simultaneous equations, elimination of one unknown can be achieved by modifying the equations so that the coefficients of that unknown in each equation are the same and then subtracting one modified equation from the other. Consider the following example.
Example 27
Solve the simultaneous equations
[maths rendering] (1)
[maths rendering] (2)
Solution
We first try to modify each equation so that the coefficient of [maths rendering] is the same in both equations. This can be achieved if Equation (1) is multiplied by 2 and Equation (2) is multiplied by 3. This gives
[maths rendering] | [maths rendering] | [maths rendering] | = | 62 | |
[maths rendering] | [maths rendering] | [maths rendering] | = | 60 | |
Now the unknown [maths rendering] can be eliminated if the second equation is subtracted from the first:
[maths rendering] | [maths rendering] | [maths rendering] | = | 62 | |
subtract [maths rendering] | [maths rendering] | [maths rendering] | = | 60 | |
[maths rendering] | [maths rendering] | [maths rendering] | = | 2 | |
The result implies that [maths rendering] and we see immediately that [maths rendering] must equal 2. To find [maths rendering] we substitute the value found for [maths rendering] into either of the given Equations (1) or (2). For example, using Equation (1),
[maths rendering]Thus the solution of the simultaneous equations is [maths rendering] , [maths rendering] .
N.B. You should always check your solution by substituting back into both of the given equations.
Example 28
Solve the equations
[maths rendering] (3)
[maths rendering] (4)
Solution
We modify the equations so that [maths rendering] can be eliminated. For example, by multiplying Equation (3) by 7 and Equation (4) by 3 we find
[maths rendering] | [maths rendering] | [maths rendering] | = | 126 | |
[maths rendering] | [maths rendering] | [maths rendering] | = | [maths rendering] | |
If these equations are now added we can eliminate [maths rendering] . Therefore
[maths rendering] | [maths rendering] | [maths rendering] | = | 126 | |
add [maths rendering] | [maths rendering] | [maths rendering] | = | [maths rendering] | |
[maths rendering] | [maths rendering] | [maths rendering] | = | [maths rendering] | |
from which [maths rendering] , so that [maths rendering] . Substituting this value of [maths rendering] into Equation (3) we obtain:
[maths rendering]
The solution is [maths rendering]
Example 29
Solve the equations
[maths rendering] (5)
[maths rendering] (6)
Solution
Note that the coefficients of [maths rendering] differ here only in sign.
By adding Equation (5) and Equation (6) we find [maths rendering] so that [maths rendering] .
It then follows that [maths rendering] , and the solution is [maths rendering] .
Task!
Solve the equations
[maths rendering]
[maths rendering]
The first step is to modify the equations so that the coefficient of [maths rendering] is the same in both.
If the first is multiplied by 2 then the second equation must be multiplied by what?
5 Write down the resulting equations:
[maths rendering] , [maths rendering]
Subtract one equation from the other to eliminate [maths rendering] and hence find [maths rendering] :
[maths rendering] so [maths rendering] so [maths rendering] .
Now substitute back to find [maths rendering] :
[maths rendering]