Elimination Method

By L.D.

Example 1:

x + 2y = 13 -x + y =5

Example 1:

x + 2y = 13 -x + y = 5 +___________________ 0 + 3y = 18

1. Add down

Example 1:

0 + 3y = 18 y=6

2. Take the answer and find y

Example 1:

-x + 6 = 5 -6 -6 -x + 0 =-1 -x = -1 x=1

3. Add it back in one Of the original problems and solve

y=6

Example 1: Answer

(1,6)

Example 2:

x 20 = -2y y + x = 15

Example 2:

x 20 = -2y y + x = 15

1. Reorder the to problem so that everything aligns properly.

x 20 = -2y + 20 + 20 x = -2y + 20 + 2y +2y____ x + 2y = 20 or 2y + x = 20

Example 2:

2y + x =20 y + x = 15 -1(y + x = 15) -y - x = -15

2. Unfortunately, we still have the problem of one of the problems not being negative so to change that we will multiply the problem by -1.

Example 2:

2y + x =20 -y - x = -15 y +0=5 y=5

3. Now you can solve.

Example 2:

5+ x = 15 -5____-5 0 + x = 10 x = 10

3. Insert the y into either problem and solve for x.

Example 2: Answer

(10,5)

Example 3:

2x + 3y = 13 4x - 2y = 2

Example 3:

2x + 3y = 13 4x - 2y = 2

1. Unfortunately in this problem the x and y arent the same so we cant properly do elimination. To fix that we need to get them at the same number. We can multiply the top by 2 and the bottom by 3. so that both ys are 6.

Example 3:

2(2x + 3y = 13) 3(4x - 2y = 2)

4x + 6y = 26 12x - 6y = 6

Example 3:

4x + 6y = 26 +12x - 6y = 6 16x + 0 = 32 16x = 32 16 16 x =2

2. Solve

Example 3:

2(2) + 3y = 13 4 + 3y = 13 -4 -4 3y = 9 3 3 y=3

3. Insert x into the one of the problems

Example 3: Answer

(2,3)