Solving Systems of

Equations
(6.3) The Elimination Method
 Elimination using Addition
Consider the system
x - 2y = 5 Lets add both equations
2x + 2y = 7 to each other

REMEMBER: We are trying to find the

Point of Intersection. (x, y)
 Elimination using Addition
Consider the system
x - 2y = 5 Lets add both equations
+ 2x + 2y = 7 to each other

NOTE: We use the Elimination Method, if we can immediately

cancel out two like terms.
 Elimination using Addition
Consider the system
x - 2y = 5 Lets add both equations
+ 2x + 2y = 7 to each other
3x = 12
x=4 

ANS: (4, y)

NOTE: We use the Elimination Method, if we can immediately

cancel out two like terms.
 Elimination using Addition
Consider the system
x - 2y = 5 Lets substitute x = 4 into this
equation.
2x + 2y = 7

4 - 2y = 5 Solve for y
- 2y = 1
y= 1 
2
ANS: (4, y)

NOTE: We use the Elimination Method, if we can immediately

cancel out two like terms.
 Elimination using Addition
Consider the system
x - 2y = 5 Lets substitute x = 4 into this
equation.
2x + 2y = 7

4 - 2y = 5 Solve for y
- 2y = 1
y= 1 
2 1
ANS: (4, 2 )

NOTE: We use the Elimination Method, if we can immediately

cancel out two like terms.
 Elimination using Addition
Consider the system
3x + y = 14
4x - y = 7

NOTE: We use the Elimination Method, if we can immediately

cancel out two like terms.
 Elimination using Addition
Consider the system
3x + y = 14
+ 4x - y = 7
7x = 21
x=3 

ANS: (3, y)
 Elimination using Addition
Consider the system
3x + y = 14 Substitute x = 3 into this equation
4x - y = 7
3(3) + y = 14
9 + y = 14
y=5 

ANS: (3, 5 )

NOTE: We use the Elimination Method, if we can immediately

cancel out two like terms.
 Examples…
1. 2.
2x + y = 5 6y + x = 11
3x  y = 15 2y  x = 5

ANS: (4, -3) ANS: (-1, 2)

 Elimination using
Multiplication
Consider the system

6x + 11y = -5
6x + 9y = -3
 Elimination using
Multiplication
Consider the system

6x + 11y = -5
+ 6x + 9y = -3
12x + 20y = -8 When we add equations together,
nothing cancels out
 Elimination using
Multiplication
Consider the system

6x + 11y = -5
6x + 9y = -3
 Elimination using
Multiplication
Consider the system

-1 (6x + 11y = -5 )
6x + 9y = -3
 Elimination using
Multiplication
Consider the system

- 6x - 11y = 5
+ 6x + 9y = -3
-2y = 2
y = -1 

ANS: (x, -1 )
 Elimination using
Multiplication
Consider the system

6x + 11y = -5
6x + 9y = -3 Lets substitute y = -1 into this equation
y = -1
6x + 9(-1) = -3
6x + -9 = -3
+9 +9
6x = 6
x=1 
ANS: (x, -1 )
 Elimination using
Multiplication
Consider the system

6x + 11y = -5
6x + 9y = -3 Lets substitute y = -1 into this equation
y = -1
6x + 9(-1) = -3
6x + -9 = -3
+9 +9
6x = 6
x=1 
ANS: ( 1, -1 )
 Elimination using
Multiplication
Consider the system

x + 2y = 6 Multiply by -3 to eliminate the x term

3x + 3y = -6
 Elimination using
Multiplication
Consider the system

-3 ( x + 2y = 6 )
3x + 3y = -6
 Elimination using
Multiplication
Consider the system

-3x + -6y = -18

+ 3x + 3y = -6
-3y = -24
y=8 

ANS: (x, 8)
 Elimination using
Multiplication
Consider the system

x + 2y = 6 Substitute y =14 into equation

3x + 3y = -6
y =8
x + 2(8) = 6
x + 16 = 6
x = -10 

ANS: (x, 8)
 Elimination using
Multiplication
Consider the system

x + 2y = 6 Substitute y =14 into equation

3x + 3y = -6
y =8
x + 2(8) = 6
x + 16 = 6
x = -10 

ANS: ( -10 , 8)
 Examples
1. 2.
x + 2y = 5 x + 2y = 4
2x + 6y = 12 x - 4y = 16

ANS: (3, 1) ANS: (8, -2)

 More complex Problems
Consider the system
3x + 4y = -25 Multiply by 2
2x - 3y = 6 Multiply by -3
 More complex Problems
Consider the system
2( 3x + 4y = -25 )
-3( 2x - 3y = 6)
 More complex Problems
Consider the system
6x + 8y = -50
+ -6x + 9y = -18
17y = -68
y = -4 

ANS: (x, -4)

 More complex Problems
Consider the system
3x + 4y = -25
2x - 3y = 6 Substitute y = -4
2x - 3(-4) = 6
2x - -12 = 6
2x + 12 = 6
2x = -6
x = -3 
ANS: (x, -4)
 More complex Problems
Consider the system
3x + 4y = -25
2x - 3y = 6 Substitute y = -4
2x - 3(-4) = 6
2x - -12 = 6
2x + 12 = 6
2x = -6
x = -3 
ANS: ( -3 , -4)
 Examples…
1. 2.
4x + y = 9 2x + 3y = 1

3x + 2y = 8 5x + 7y = 3

ANS: (2, 1) ANS: (2, -1)