Solving simultaneous equations algebraically

by substitution
This method is useful when one equation is in a form where one of the variables is the subject. For
example, y is the subject in the equation y = 5x + 3.

Solve the system of equations y = x + 3 and y = 2x + 5.

THINK WRITE

1 Write the two equations, labelling y=x+3 [1]

one as equation 1 and the other as y = 2x + 5 [2]
equation 2.

2 At the point of intersection the two At point of intersection:

y-values are equal, so [1] = [2]. [1] = [2]
x + 3 = 2x + 5

3 Solve the equation for x: x + 3 − x = 2x + 5 − x

• x appears on each side of the equation, 3=x+5
so subtract x from both sides. 3−5=x+5−5
• Subtract 5 from both sides. −2 = x

4 The x-coordinate of the point of y1 = x + 3

intersection is −2. To find the value of the = (−2) + 3
y-coordinate, substitute the value of x into =1
one of the equations (it does not matter
which).

5 Write the solution as the pair of The solution is x = −2 and y = 1, or (−2, 1).
coordinates representing the intersection
point.

e y = 2x − 5
5x − y = 1 f y = −x + 4
5x = 3y

e f
y = 2x – 5 (1) y = –x + 4 (1)
5x – y = 1 (2) 5x = 3y (2)
Substitute the expression 2x – 5 for y from equation (1) into Substitute the expression –x + 4 for y from equation (1)
equation (2) into equation (2)
−4 y = −x + 4
Substitute x = into equation (1) to solve for y
3 5x = 3 y
y = 2x − 5 5 x = 3(− x + 4)
⎛ −4 ⎞ 5 x = −3 x + 12
y = 2⎜ ⎟ − 5
⎝ 3 ⎠ 5 x + 3 x = 12
−8 8 x = 12
y= −5
3 12
23 x=
y=− 8
3 3
⎛ 4 23 ⎞ x=
The point of intersection is ⎜ − , − ⎟ 2
⎝ 3 3 ⎠ 3
Substitute x = into equation (1) to solve for y
2
y = −x + 4
3
y=− +4
2
5
y=
2
⎛3 5⎞
The point of intersection is ⎜ , ⎟
⎝2 2⎠
 2 WE10 Solve the following pairs of equations simultaneously using the substitution method.
a 2x + y = 17 b y + 4x = 6
x = 2y + 1 y = 2x − 3

2 a b
2x + y = 17 (1) y +4x = 6 (1)
x = 2y + 1 (2) y = 2x – 3 (2)
Substitute the expression 2y + 1 for x from equation (2) Substitute the expression 2x – 3 for y from equation (2) into
into equation (1) equation (1)
2 ( 2 y + 1) + y = 17 y + 4x = 6
4 y + 2 + y = 17 (2 x − 3) + 4 x = 6
5 y + 2 = 17 6x − 3 = 6
5 y = 17 − 2 6x = 6 + 3
5 y = 15 6x = 9
y=3 9
x=
Substitute y = 3 into equation (2) to solve for x 6
x = 2y +1 3
x=
x = 2(3) + 1 2
x = 6 +1 3
Substitute x = into equation (2) to solve for y
2
x=7
The point of intersection = (7, 3) y = 2x − 3
Check your answer by substituting the point of intersection ⎛ 3⎞
y = ⎜2× ⎟ − 3
into equation (1) ⎝ 2⎠
2 x + y = 17 y = 3−3
2(7) + 3 = 17 y=0
14 + 3 = 17 ⎛3 ⎞
As L.H.S. = R.H.S., the solution is correct The point of intersection is ⎜ ,0 ⎟
⎝2 ⎠
Check your answer by substituting the point of intersection
into equation (1)

c 3x − 2y = 5 d y = 1 − 2x
y = 3 − 4x y = 3 − 4x

c
3x – 2y = 5 (1) d
y = 3 – 4x (2) y = 1 – 2x (1)
Substitute the expression 3 – 4x for y from equation (2) into y = 3 – 4x (2)
equation (1) Substitute the expression 3 – 4x for y from equation (2) into
3x − 2 y = 5 equation (1)
y = 3 − 4x y = 1 − 2x
3x − 2(3 − 4 x) = 5 3 − 4x = 1 − 2x
3x − 6 + 8 x = 5 −4 x + 2 x = 1 − 3
11x = 11 −2 x = −2
x =1 x =1
Substitute x = 1 into equation (2) to solve for y Substitute x = 1 into equation (2) to solve for y
y = 3 − 4x y = 3 − 4x
y = 3 − (4 × 1) y = 3 − (4 × 1)
y = 3−4 y = 3−4
y = −1 y = −1
The point of intersection is (1, –1) The point of intersection is (1, –1)
Check your answer by substituting the point of intersection Check your answer by substituting the point of intersection
into equation (1) into equation (1)
3.6 Simultaneous equations
A linear equation such as y = 2x + 3 has two variables, x and y. It has many solutions; for
example, x = 0 and y = 3 or x = 1 and y = 5. However, when there are two linear equations
there is only one solution unless the two lines are parallel. The two equations are called
simultaneous equations. The solution of the simultaneous equations represents the point
of intersection of the two lines. There are two algebraic methods of solving simultaneous
equations: substitution and elimination.

Method 1: Substitution
When solving simultaneous equations by substitution, the process is to substitute a variable
from one equation into the other equation.

Simultaneous equations: Substitution method

1 Make one pronumeral the subject in one of the equations.
2 Substitute the expression for this subject into the other equation.
3 Solve this new equation to find the value of one pronumeral.
4 Substitute this value into one of the equations to find the value of the second pronumeral.

Example 18 Solving simultaneous equations by substitution

Solve this pair of simultaneous equations: y = 2x + 3 and y = -x.

Solution
1 Number the two equations as (1) and (2). y = 2x + 3 (1)
2 Substitute the y-value from equation (2) y = -x (2)
(or -x) into equation (1). Substitute eqn (2) into eqn (1):
3 Solve the equation for x. -x = 2x + 3
4 Subtract 2x from both sides of the -3x = 3
equation. x = -1
5 Divide both sides of the equation by -3.
6 To find y, substitute x = -1 into Substitute x = -1 into eqn (2):
equation (2). y = -(-1) = 1
7 Check the solution by substituting x = -1 Check: y = 2x + 3
and y = 1 into equation (1). 1 = 2 × (-1) + 3 True
8 Write the answer in words. Solution is x = -1 and y = 1,
(-1, 1).
 The substitution method
In this section you will solve simultaneous equations using an algebraic method. The substitution method involves
substituting one equation into the other and solving for the remaining variable.
Check: It is easy to check if the solution is correct by direct substitution into both equations.

WORKED EXAMPLE 1
Solve the following equations simultaneously, using the substitution method.
a y = 2x − 11 and x + y = 19 b 2x − y = 9 and x = 2y − 3

Solve Think Apply

a x + y = 19 As y is the subject of the first equation, Substitute one equation
x + (2x − 11) = 19 substitute y = 2x − 11 into x + y = 19. into the other and
3x − 11 = 19 That is, in x + y = 19 replace y by solve for the remaining
3x = 30 2x − 11. variable.
x = 10 Collect like terms and solve for x. Substitute the value of
y = 2 × 10 − 11 Substitute x = 10 into y = 2x − 11 this variable into either
=9 (or x + y = 19) to find y. of the equations to find
or 10 + y = 19 If x = 10 and y = 9 then the value of the other
y =9 9 = 2 × 10 − 11 is true and variable.
Solution is x = 10 and y = 9. 10 + 9 = 19 is true.

Solve Think Apply

b 2x − y = 9 As x is the subject of the second Substitute one equation into
2(2y − 3) − y = 9 equation, substitute x = 2y − 3 the other and solve for the
4y − 6 − y = 9 into 2x − y = 9. Expand, collect remaining variable.
3y − 6 = 9 like terms and solve for y. Substitute the value of this
3y = 15 Substitute y = 5 into x = 2y − 3 variable into either of the
y=5 (or 2x − y = 9) to find x. equations to find the value of
x=2×5−3=7 If x = 7 and y = 5 then the other variable.
or 2x − 5 = 9 2 × 7 − 5 = 9 is true and
2x = 14 7 = 2 × 5 − 3 is true.
x=7
Solution is x = 7 and y = 5.

WORKED EXAMPLE 2
Solve y = 3x − 1 and y = x − 7 simultaneously using the substitution method.

Solve Think Apply

3x − 1 = x − 7 Substitute y = 3x − 1 into the Substitute one equation
2x − 1 = −7 second equation; that is, replace y into the other and solve for
2x = −6 by 3x − 1 and solve the resulting the remaining variable.
x = −3 equation. Substitute this variable into
If x = −3, y = 3 × −3 − 1 = −10 Substitute x = −3 into either equation to find the
The solution is x = −3 and y = −10. y = 3x − 1 (or y = x − 7) to find y. value of the other variable.
WORKED EXAMPLE 3
Solve the following equations simultaneously using the substitution method.
x+y=1 1
2x + 3y = −1 2

Solve Think Apply

From equation 1 , y = 1 − x. Label the equations 1 and 2 . Make y (or x) the subject
Make y the subject of equation 1 . of one of the equations
Substitute into equation 2 .
and substitute this into
2x + 3(1 − x) = −1 Substitute y = 1 − x into equation 2 .
the other equation to
2x + 3 − 3x = −1 Solve for x. Substitute this value of x find the value of the
−x + 3 = −1 into one of the equations to find y. remaining variable.
−x = −4
x =4
If x = 4, y = 1 − 4 = −3.
The solution is x = 4 and y = −3.
Check:
In 1 : 4 + −3 = 1
In 2 : 2 × 4 + 3 × −3 = −1