How do I solve simultaneous equations?

MYTUTOR SUBJECT ANSWERS

Answers / Maths / GCSE / How do I solve simultaneous equations?

579 views

How do I solve simultaneous equations?

Let's use an example.

x+y=6

2x+3y=14

Find the values of x and y.

When I was kid back then, I was always wondering why are equations important? Well, for me, its because we want to be precise with our asnwers.

x+y=6. There are many answers to this. Including:-

4+2

3+3

even 7+(-1)

therefore, what method should we use to ensure our calculation is accurate?

well, we have 2 equations. lets remove one variable out of the picture so we are left with only one

at the beginning, x+y=6 ......equation 1

2x+3y=14........equation 2

now, we decided to remove either x or y because removing either one of them will make it so much easier to find a specific value for x or y.

to do this, let's decide to remove x as an example.

multiplying equation 1 by 2 gives us,

2x+2y=12.....set this to equation 3

remember equation 2? 2x+3y=14

it can be seen now that we can remove 2x by performing equation 3-equation2 which gives us:-

y=2

we now have a value for y which is great so let's find value x by placing y=2 into equation 1, 2 or 3 since we already have a value.

let us take equation 1 in this case.

x+y=6

y=2, therefore, x+2=6

and x=6-2

and this, x=4 and y=2

to check our answers, we can place the values of x and y into any equations to find whether out answers match.

using equation 3,

2x+2y=12

2(4)+2(2)=8+4=12

and this is how we know our answers are correct!

Wilson H. 11 Plus Maths tutor, 11 Plus Maths tutor

1 year ago

Answered by Wilson, a GCSE Maths tutor with MyTutor

Still stuck? Get one-to-one help from a personally interviewed subject specialist

623 SUBJECT SPECIALISTS

Rhys T. A Level Physics tutor, GCSE Physics tutor, A Level Chemistry ...

View profile

£18 /hr

Rhys T.

Degree: Medicine (Other) - Cambridge University

Subjects offered:Maths, Science+ 6 more

“Cambridge Medical student tutoring Maths and Science, I am young and enthusiast for my subjects.”

MyTutor guarantee

Save profile

Joe C. A Level Maths tutor, GCSE Maths tutor

View profile

£30 /hr

Joe C.

Degree: Mathematics (Bachelors) - Bristol University

Subjects offered:Maths, Further Mathematics

“Hi, I'm Joe, an experienced tutor and a University of Bristol graduate with a first class Degree in Mathematics.”

5.0

84 reviews | 177 completed tutorials

Save profile

Daniel K. GCSE Maths tutor, A Level Maths tutor, A Level Physics tuto...

View profile

£24 /hr

Daniel K.

Degree: Mathematical and Theoretical Physics (Masters) - Oxford, Merton College University

Subjects offered:Maths, Science+ 5 more

“Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Oxford. I enjoy sharing my experience and enthusiasm in Maths with those who could do with some help”

5.0

50 reviews | 67 completed tutorials

Save profile

See more GCSE Maths tutors

About the author

View profile

Wilson H.

Currently unavailable: for new students

Degree: Mechanical Engineering (Masters) - Bristol University

Subjects offered:Maths, Physics

“I am currently a first-year Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Bristol. One of the key challenges for someone studying Engineering is to explain key concepts of mathematics and physics to students easily and also toth...”

MyTutor guarantee

Save profile

Version:	3.49.4
Build:	b2e05e7dfef3
Time:	2017-08-18T11:35:22Z

MYTUTOR SUBJECT ANSWERS

How do I solve simultaneous equations?

Still stuck? Get one-to-one help from a personally interviewed subject specialist

623 SUBJECT SPECIALISTS

About the author

You may also like...

Other GCSE Maths questions

One-to-one help is at your fingertips