Solving simultaneous questions, e.g. 3x + y = 11 and 2x + y = 8

The unknowns in a simultaneous equation need to be solved, which in this case are x and y.The method I will be using is by elimination:First, find which unknown has the same coefficient. In this example this is the letter y that has a coefficient of 1 in both equations.Then, subtract the two equations from each other to eliminate y so you get:3x + y = 11-2x + y = 8-------------x = 3Now, you know what x is so you can substitute x back into any of the equations to rearrange and find yIn this case subbing into 3x + y = 113x + y = 113(3) + y = 119 + y = 11y = 2We have now found x = 3 and y = 2To check the answers are right, substitute this back into the second equation just for confirmation and this should work!

SS

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

How do I solve simultaenous equations? e.g. 2x -5y =11 and 3x+2y=7


Dipen and Nisha are planning their wedding reception. Nisha says, “I want to invite 70 guests.” Dipen says, “If we invite one-fifth fewer guests, we will save more than £500” Is Dipen correct? (Taken from Nov 2014 AQA Unit 2)


Solve the following simultaneous equations: x^2 + y^2 = 29 and y - x =3


Jorgen has 20 sweets in his pocket. The sweets are either blue or yellow. He picks a sweet and eats it and takes another sweet and eats it again. The probability of him picking two blue sweets is 6/30. How many yellow sweets does he have in his pocket.