Substitution Method for solving Pair of Linear Equations.

Substitution Method for solving pair of linear equations involves following steps:
1. Simplify the equations given to get coefficients which can be manipulated
2. Select and solve one of the equations i.e write one variable in terms of other variable
3. Substitute the variable in other equation
4. Solve the equation with one variable
5. Use the value of variable in other equation and solve the equation
6. Write the solution
Example for Substitution Method:
Solve the following pair of linear equations using substitution method.
x/4 + y

=4

x/2 + y/3 = 3
Step 1: Simplify the Equations.

x + 4y = 16
3x + 2y = 18

(Take LCM and make Coefficients as natural

numbers)
Step 2: Write one variable in terms of other
x = 16 - 4y
The coefficient of x in first equation is 1. So it is easy to write x in terms of y.
Step 3: Substitute the variable in other equation
3(16 - 4y) + 2y = 18

Step 4: Solve the equation with one variable.

3(16 - 4y) + 2y = 18 => 48 - 12y + 2y = 18
or 10y = 30 or y =3

Step 5: Use the value of variable (y) in one of the equations to solve for other variable
x/4 + 3 = 4 => x/4 = 1 => x = 4
Step 6: The solution is given by x = 4 and y = 3
If you find it difficult to understand the steps by yourself, please have a look at following videos.

When should the substitution method be used for solving pair of linear equations?
1. When the coefficients of one or more of the variables are 1.
2. When the coefficients of variables are can be reduced to 1.
3. If denominators of fractions have small natural numbers as LCM.
4. There are no decimals involved.
Elimination Method for solving pair of linear equations.
This page gives general method of solving pair of linear equations using elimination method. For special
cases such as those with unique solution, infinite solutions and no solution, please refer to page on special
cases.
Elimination method for solving pair of linear equations involves following steps:
1. Check for the coefficients of variables in given equations and simplify the equations.
2. If any two variables have same coefficients, subtract one equation from the other.
3. Otherwise, make coefficients of a variable equal in two equations by multiplying with different
numbers.
4. Subtract one equation from the other.
5. Solve for the variable from simple equation.
6. Use the value of this variable to solve for other variable.
7. Write the Solution
Example for Elimination Method:

Solve the following pair of linear equations using elimination method.

x/4 + y

= 4 -------- (1)

x/2 + y/3 = 3 -------- (2)

Step 1: Check for the coefficients and Simplify the Equations.
x + 4y = 16 --------- (3)
3x + 2y = 18 ------- (4)

(Take LCM and make Coefficients as natural numbers)

Step 2: If any two variables have same coefficients, subtract one equation from the other.
In the given equations, no two variables have same coefficients. So, we need to make the coefficients
equal.
Step 3: Otherwise, make coefficients of a variable equal in two equations by multiplying with different
numbers.
Equation (3) can be multiplied by 3 to make coefficients of x equal.
Equation (4) can be multiplied by 2 to make coefficients of y equal.
We will solve by multiplying equation (3) with 3.
3x + 12y = 48 ------(5)
3x + 2y = 18 ------(4)
Step 4: Subtract on equation from other.
Step 5: Solve for the variable from simple equation.
(5) - (4) gives 10y = 30 => y = 3
Step 6: Use the value of this variable to solve for other variable.
Putting value of y in equation (4), we have
3x + 6 = 18 => 3x = 12 => x = 4
Step 7: The solution is given by x = 4 and y = 3
If you find it difficult to understand the steps by yourself, please have a look at the following videos.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEdyoP0En3c]
When should elimination method be used for solving pair of linear equations?
1. When coefficient of one variable are equal in both equations
2. When LCM of coefficients of same variable is small number
3. Multiplication to make coefficients does not result in large numbers
4. Less calculation involving decimals and fractions
Graphical Method for Solving Pair of Linear Equations:
Graphical Method for solving pair of linear equations involves following steps:
1.

Rewrite the given equations in form of standard line equation y = mx + c

2. Verify if the slopes (m) are equal in two equations

3.

If slopes are equal, then check if the constants are equal

4. If slopes are equal and constants are not equal, conclude that the lines are parallel
5.

If both the slopes and constants are equal, they represent same line

6. If slopes are not equal in standard form, plot the graphs of two equations
7.

The point of intersection gives the solution for pair of linear equations

Example for Graphical Method:

Solve the following pair of linear equations using graphical method.
x+y = 4
xy =2
Step 1: Rewrite the given equations in form of standard line equation y = mx + c
y = -x + 4 ----- (3)
y = x 2 ----- (4)
Step 2: Verify if the slopes(m) are equal in two equations

We see the slope of equation (3) is -1 and slope of equation (4) is 1

Step 3: If slopes are equal, then check if the constants are equal
The slopes are not equal as seen in step 2. Constants are also not equal.
Step 4: If slopes are equal and constants are not equal, conclude that the lines are parallel
Step 5: If both the slopes and constants are equal, they represent same line
As both the slopes and constants are not equal, the given lines are different and are not parallel.
Step 6: If slopes are not equal in standard form, plot the graphs of two equations
Step 7: The point of intersection is given by x = 3 and y = 1