Simultaneous Linear Equations – Word Problems

Instructions: Use Both Elimination and Substitution methods to solve the questions below. Make sure you use
different methods for alternate questions:

Q1:  If twice the age of son is added to age of father, the sum is 56. But if twice the age of the father is added
to the age of son, the sum is 82. Find the ages of father and son. 
Q2: In a farm, there are x chickens and y horses. If the total number of chickens and horses in the farm is 71
and the total number of legs is 180, (a) form two simultaneous equations in x and y. (b) Solve the equations to
find the number of chickens and horses in the farm.
Q3: There are two numbers. When the second number is subtracted from twice the first number, the result is
18. When 9 is added to the first number, the result is equal to twice the second number. (a) Using x as the first
number and y as the second number, write down a pair of simultaneous equations. (b) Hence find the
numbers x and y
Q4: The sum of Anthony and his daughter’s present age is 38. One year ago, Anthony was eight times as old as
his daughter. Given that Anthony’s present age is m and his daughter’s present age is n, (a) form two
equations involving m and n, (b) solve these equations to find their present ages.
Q5: The difference of two numbers is 3, and the sum of three times the larger one and twice the smaller one is
19. Find the two numbers.
Q6: The sum of four times the first number and three times the second number is 15. The difference of three
times the first number and twice the second number is 7. Find the numbers.
Q7: The sides of a rectangle shown in the figure below are given in centimetres. (a) Write down two equations
relating x and y. (b) Using the two equations formed in part (a), find x and y. (c) Hence, find the area of the
rectangle.

Answers: 1: son= 10, father=36

Ans2: chicken=52, horses=19

Ans3: 15, 12

Ans 4: 15, 12

Ans 5: 5, 2

Ans 6: 3, 1

Ans 7: 5,2