SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Standards Lesson

Learning Outcome 2: Functions and Algebra
The learner is able to investigate, analyse, describe and represent a wide range of functions and
solve related problems.
10
Assessment Standards
We know this when the learner is able to:
• Solve:
◦ linear equations
◦ quadratic equations by factorisation
◦ exponential equations of the form kax + p = m (including examples solved by trial and error)
◦ linear inequalities in one variable and illustrate the solution graphically
◦ linear equations in two variables simultaneously (numerically, algebraically and graphically).

Overview
In this lesson you will :
● Investigate different methods of solving simultaneous equations
● Use simultaneous equations to solve problems.

Lesson
From Grade 9 DVD
If y = 4 and 2x + 3y = 10, find the value of x and y
Solution
Substitute y = 4 into 2x + 3y = 10
2x + 3(4) = 10
2x + 12 = 10
2x = −2
x = −1
∴ x = −1 and y = 4
We will extend this to more complex examples.
1. Solve for x and y
x + 2y = 8 and 2x − y = 11
Method 1: Substitution
Call the equations 1 and 2
x + 2y = 8 1 2x − y = 11 2
• Make either x or y the subject.
From 1 x = 8 − 2y
11
Now substitute into 2 2(8 − 2y) − y = 11

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 16 − 4y − y = 11
−5y = −5
y=1
Find x
x = 8 − 2y
x = 8 −2
x=6
Method 2: Elimination
Make either the x’s or y’s the same by multiplication.
x + 2y = 8 1 2x − y = 11 2
Multiply 2 × 2 4x − 2y = 22 3
Put 1 under 3 Add 1 and 3 to
4x − 2y = 22 3 eliminate y
x + 2y = 8
5x = 30 1
x = 6 Substitute into 1
6 + 2y = 8
2y = 2
y=1 x=6
Let’s do another example
2. Solve for x and y
x − 3y = 4 and x − y = −2
Method 1
Substitution
x = 4 + 3y 1
Substitute into x − y = −2
4 + 3y − y = − 2
2y = − 6
y=−3
x = 4 + 3 (−3)
x=−5

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 Method 2:
Elimination
1 x − 3y = 4
2 __
x – y = –2
–2y = 6
Subtract to eliminate x
y = −3
Substitute into 2
x − (−3) = −2
x + 3 = −2
x = −5
3. Solve for x and y
3x + 2y = 8 and 5x − 4y = 6
Elimination is a better method.
3x + 2y = 8 Multiply by 2
6x + 4y = 16 Write the other equation underneath.
__
5x – 4y = 6
add
11x = 22
x = 2 Substitute to find y
3(2) + 2y = 8
6 + 2y = 8
2y = 2
y=1 x=2 y=1
Use of simultaneous equation to solve problems
1. The sum of two numbers is 12. The difference between twice the first
number and three times the second number is 44.
Find the numbers.
Solution
Let the 1st number be x.
Let the 2nd number be y.
1 x + y = 12
2 2x − 3y = 44 Multiply 1 by 2
__
2x + 2y = 24
Subtract
–5y = 20
y=−4 Substitute x − 4 = 12
x = 16
The numbers are 16 and −4.
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 Note: 23, for example is a two digit number.
TU
23 = 2 3 (T: tens; U: units)
= (2(10) + 3
So a two digit number xy is of the form 10(x) + y.
2. The sum of the digits of a two digit number is 15.
If the digits are reversed, the new number will be 42 less than twice the
original number.
Note: If 23 is a two digit number and the number is reversed the new number
will be 32 which is 30 + 2 so xy is 10(x) + y.
If the digits are reversed, we write yx which is 10y + x.
Solution: Number xy i.e. 10x + y
1 x + y = 15
2 10y + x = 2(10x + y) − 42
10y + x = 20x + 2y − 42
8y − 19x = − 42
From 1 y = 15 − x Substitute into 2
8(15 − x) − 19x = − 42
120 − 8x − 19x = − 42
− 27x = − 162
x=6
y = 15 − 6
y=9 The number is 69.
3. Phillip types at x words per minute. Jenny types at y words per minute.
When Phillip and Jenny both type for 1 minute, they type a total of 170
words. When Jenny types for 5 minutes and Phillip types for 3 minutes
they type a total of 710 words.
Calculate the typing speeds.
Solution
1 x + y = 170
2 3x + 5y = 710 Multiply 1 by 3
3x + 3y = 510 Subtract
2y = 200
y = 100
14 x = 70

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 Activity 1
Solve the following simultaneous equations. INDIVIDUAL

1. y = 2x + 6 and y + 2x + 2 = 0
SUMMATIVE
2. 2x − y = 4 and 3x + y = 11 ASSESSMENT

3. 3a + b = 5 and 2a + b = 4
4. 2p + q = 2 and 4p − q = 10
5. x − 3y = 0 and x − 5y = 2
6. 3x + 2y = 7 and 7x − 3y = 1
7. 3a + 4b = −2 and 5a + 7b = −3
8. 5x + 2y = 9 and 7x − 5y = 28
9. 3x + 2y = 8 and 5x − 4y = 6
10. 3x − 4y = 18 and 2x + y = 1

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 ANSWERS AND ASSESSMENT

Lesson 7
Activity 1
1. (x − 3)(x + 2) = (x − 1)(x + 1)
x2 − x − 6 = x2 − 1
−x=5
x=−5
2. (x + 2)(x − 1) = (x + 3)(x − 3)
x2 + x − 2 = x2 − 9
x = –7
3. LCD = (x − 5)
(x + 5)(x − 5) − x2 = 2(x − 5)
x2 − 25 − x2 = 2x − 10
− 15 = 2x
x=–_
15
2
4. LCD = x(x − 2)(x + 5)
x (x + 5) − 2x (x − 2) + (x + 5)(x − 2) = 0
x2 + 5x − 2x2 + 4x + x2 + 3x − 10 = 0
12x = 10
6x = 5
x = _56
5. 5–_3x
=_
x–8
x–2 x–2
LCD = (x − 2)
5(x − 2) − 3x = x − 8
5x − 10 − 3x = x − 8
x=2 (No solution. Can you think why?)
6. _
x – 1 __
+ 2x + 3 = _
4x – 1
x+2 (x – 2)(x + 2) 4(x – 2)
LCD 4(x − 2)(x + 2)
4(x − 1)(x − 2) + 4(2x + 3) = (4x − 1)(x + 2)
4(x2 − 3x + 2) + 8x + 12 = 4x2 + 7x − 2
4x2 − 12x + 8 + 8x + 12 = 4x2 + 7x − 2
16 − 11x = − 22

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 x=2 (No solution)
7. __
x–8
=_
–1 – _
4
(x – 3)(x + 2) x–3 x+2
LCD (x − 3)(x + 2)
x − 8 = − 1 (x + 2) − 4(x − 3)
x − 8 = − x − 2 − 4x + 12
6x = 18
x=3 (No solution)
8. _
2 –_
3
= __
–1
x(x – 3) x(x + 4) 3x(3 – x)
LCD 3x(x − 3)(x + 4)
6(x + 4) − 9 (x − 3) = − 1 (x + 4)
6x + 24 − 9x + 27 = − x − 4
−2x = − 55
x=_
55
2
9. __
4 –_
3
+_
5
=0
(2x – 3)(2x + 3) 2x – 3 2x + 3
LCD (2x − 3)(2x + 3)
4 − 3(2x + 3) + 5(2x − 3) = 0
4 − 6x − 9 + 10x − 15 = 0
4x = 20
x=5

Activity 2
1. _
x
+_
5x
– _3
x + 1 2(x + 1) 1

= ___
2x + 5x – 6(x + 1)
2(x + 1)

=_x–6
2(x + 1)

2. _
x–1 _
+ x+3 =2
x+2 x–2
LCD (x + 2)(x − 2)
(x − 1)(x − 2) + (x + 3)(x + 2) = 2(x2 − 4)
x2 − 3x + 2 + x2 + 5x + 6 = 2x2 − 8
2x = − 16
x=−8
3. (x − 5)(x − 1) = (x + 4)2
x2 − 6x + 5 = x2 + 8x + 16
17
− 14x = 11

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 x = –_
11
14

4. ____
(x – 5)(x – 1) – (x + 4)(x + 1)
(x + 1)(x – 1)

= ___
2 2
x – 6x + 5 – x – 5x – 4
(x + 1)(x – 1)

= __ 1 – 11x
(x + 1)(x – 1)

5. _
x – 1 __
– x+3
x + 2 (x – 2)(x + 2)

= ___
(x – 1)(x – 2) – x – 3
(x + 2)(x – 2)

= ___
2
x – 3x + 2 – x – 3
(x + 2)(x – 2)

= __
2
x – 4x – 1
(x + 2)(x – 2)

6. _
x
+_
4 =1
x–5 2
8(x – 3)
LCD 2(x − 5)(x − 3)
2x (x − 3) + x − 5 = 2(x2 − 8x + 15)
2x2 − 6x + x − 5 = 2x2 − 16x + 30
11x = 35
x=_
35
11
7. _
x–1
+ __
4
x(x + 1) (x – 1)(x + 1)

= __
2
(x – 1) + 4x
x(x + 1)(x – 1)

= __
2
x – 2x + 1 + 4x
x(x + 1)(x – 1)

= __
2
x + 2x + 1
x(x + 1)(x – 1)

= __ =_
2
(x + 1) x+1
x(x + 1)(x – 1) x(x – 1)

8. _
3
–_
2 =4
x–1 x–1
LCD (x − 1)
3 – 2 = 4(x − 1)
1 = 4x − 4
5 = 4x
x = _54

Activity 3
A. 1. bx + b = a + b
x = _ab b≠0
18 2. x(a − b) = (a − b)(a + b)

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 x=a+b a≠b
3. x + 1 = 4n2 − 2nx
x + 2nx = 4n2 − 1
x (1 + 2n) = (2n − 1)(2n + 1)
x = 2n − 1 1 + 2n ≠ 0
n ≠ − _12
4. 2ax − 2a2 + 13a = 3x + 15
2ax − 3x = 2a2 − 13a + 15
x (2a − 3) = (2a − 3)(a − 5)
x = a − 5 if a ≠ _32
5. a2 − 2ax + x2 = x2 + b2
a2 − b2 = 2ax
x = a_
2 2
–b
2a
6. (x − a)(x − c) = (x + b)(x − b)
x2 − ax − cx + ac = x2 − b2
b2 + ac = ax + cx
b2 + ac = x (a + c)
x=_
2
b + ac
a+c
7. LCD ab
a(x − a) − b (x − b) = ab(a − b)
ax − a2 − bx + b2 = a2 b − ab2
x (a − b) = a2 b − ab2 + a2 − b2

x =___
ab(a – b) + (a – b)(a + b)
(a – b)

x = ___
(a – b)(ab + a + b)
(a – b)
8. a(x + d) = c(x + b)
ax + ad = cx + bc
ax − cx = bc − ad
x(a − c) = bc − ad
x=_
bc – ad
a–c
B. 1. (a) LCD axb
ab = xb + ax
ab = x (a + b) 19
x=_ab
a+b

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 (b) (i) _6 (ii) _
21 (iii) − 6
5 10
2. (a) LCD abcx
abc = bcx + acx + abx
x = __ abc
bc + ac + ab
(b) (i) __
24 =_
24 = _
12
12 + 8 + 6 26 13
(ii) __ 56
=_56 _
8 + 14 + 28 50 25
= 28
(iii) ___ –30
=_–30 _
= 30
10 + (–6) + (–15) –11 11
3. (a) (x − a)(x − d) = (x − c)(x − b)
x2 − ax − dx + ad = x2 − cx − bx + bc
bx + cx − ax − dx = bc − ad
x = __
bc –ad
b+c–a–d
(b) x = __ 3 – 10
=_
–7 _
=7
3 + 1 – 5 – 2 –3 3
(c) b + c = a + d

Lesson 8
Activity 1
1. x = – _32 or x=5 2. x = _43 or x = – _52
3. x=0 or x = _23 4. x = _52
5. x = _32 or x = – _32 6. x=4 or x=1
7. x = _34 or x = – _12 8. x=0 or x = _23
9. x=0 or x = ± _13 10. x = 2 or x = − _14
11. x = 0 or x=5 12. No solution

Activity 2
1. x=3 or x = −7 2. x=5 or x=8
3. x = _32 or x = _43 4. x = 5; x ≠ −1
5. x = 6; x ≠ −3 6. x = 4; x≠2
7. x ∈ ℝ; x ≠ 3 8. x ∈ ℝ; x = ±2
9. x = _54 or x = −5 10. x = _35 or x=3
11. (a) x = 0 or x = −3
(b) No Solution
(c) x = 0 or x = −3 or x = ± _12

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 Lesson 10
Activity 1
1. x =−2 y=2
2. x = 3 y=2
3. a=1 b=2
4. p=2 q=−2
5. y=−1 x=−3
6. x=1 y=2
7. a=−2 b=1
8. x=−1 y=7
9. x=2 y=1
10. x = 2 y = −3

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 TIPS FOR TEACHERS

Lesson 7
● Keep introducing “simplify” examples so that the learners do not drop the
denominator.
● Stress cross multiplication as it is a very common technique.

Lesson 8
Stress the method of solving a quadratic equation:
● There will be an x2 term
● Equate to zero
● Factorise
● Solve each factor
● Remember or not and.

Lesson 10
It is a good idea to show learners both ways of solving simultaneous equations.

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