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3 8 The Substitution Method
3 8 The Substitution Method
Substitution is when you replace one thing with another thing. Substitution is ideal to use if one of the variables has already been isolated in the original system of equations.
Steps: 1. Pick an equation (thats easiest to get one of the variables by itself) and solve for a variable. 2. Substitute into the OTHER equation. 3. Solve for the first variable. 4. Substitute and solve for the second variable (doesnt matter which equation). 5. Check your solution (YES, you need to check your answer!)
x + y = 56 (1)
y = 7x + 8 (2)
x + 7x + 8 = 56 8x + 8 = 56 8x = 48 x=6 Check solution x = 6 and y = 50 in equation (2) y = 7x + 8 50 = 7(6) + 8 50 = 42 + 8 50 = 50 LS = RS Since LS = RS, solution set: (6,50)
3x y = 26
(1)
4x + 5y = 3
(1) 3x y = 26
(2)
Since no variables are isolated, we need to isolate one before we can substitute. Substitute into y = 3x 26 into (2).
-y = -3x + 26
y = 3x 26
3x y = 26
(1)
4x + 5y = 3
(2)
Check solution x = 7 and y = -5 into (2) 4(7) + 5(-5) = 3 28 25 = 3 3=3 LS = RS Therefore, since LS = RS the solution set = (7,-5)
21 y = 26 y=5
y = -5
Solve the system of equation by substitution. Substitute the expression in the second equation into the first equation and solve.
3x 2y = -2 (1)
x = -y + 6 (2)
Substitute y = 4 into eq(2) 3(-y + 6) 2y = -2 x = -y + 6 -3y 18 2y = -2 x=2 x = -4 + 6 -5y = -2 - 18 -5y = -20 Check solution x = 2 & y = 50 in equation (2) 3x 2y = -2 y=4 -2 = -2 3(2) 2(4) = -2 LS = RS 6 - 8 = -2 solution set: (2,4)
Rewrite (2) in terms of x x = -3y + 12 (3) From (3) substitute x = -3y + 12 into eq(1).
-3(-3y + 12) 9y = 7 9y 36 9y = 7 0y = 7 + 36 0 = 43
Solve the system of equation by substitution. Substitute the expression in the second equation into the first equation and solve.
-4x + 4y = -8 (1)
y=x-2 (2)
LS = RS Infinite solutions