SOLVING EQUATIONS BY SUBSTITUTION METHOD

Solving Equations by Substitution Method :

In this section, you will learn how to solve system of linear equations with two unknowns using substitution. 

Solving Equations by Substitution Method - Steps

Step 1 : 

In the given two equations, solve one of the equations either for x or y. 

Step 2 : 

Substitute the result of step 1 into other equation and solve for the second variable. 

Step 3 : 

Using the result of step 2 and step 1, solve for the first variable.  

Solving Equations by Substitution Method - Examples

Example 1 : 

Solve for x and y : 

x - 5y + 17  =  0

2x + y + 1  =  0

Solution : 

x - 5y + 17  =  0 -----(1)

2x + y + 1  =  0 -----(2)

Step 1 :

Solve (1) for x. 

x - 5y + 17  =  0

Subtract 17 from each side. 

x - 5y  =  -17

Add 5y to each side.

x  =  5y - 17 -----(3)

Step 2 : 

Substitute (5y - 17) for x into (2). 

(2)-----> 2(5y - 17) + y + 1  =  0

10y - 34 + y + 1  =  0

11y - 33  =  0

Add 33 to each side.

11y  =  33

Divide each side by 11.

y  =  3

Step 3 :

Substitute 3 for y into (3).

(3)-----> x  =  5(3) - 17

x  =  15 - 17

x  =  -2

Therefore, the solution is 

(x, y)  =  (-2, 3)

Example 2 : 

Solve for x and y : 

5x + 3y - 8  =  0

2x - 3y + 1  =  0

Solution : 

5x + 3y - 8  =  0 -----(1)

2x - 3y + 1  =  0 -----(2)

Step 1 :

Solve (1) for 3y. 

5x + 3y - 8  =  0

Add 8 to each side. 

5x + 3y  =  8

Subtract 5x from each side.

3y  =  8 - 5x -----(3)

Step 2 : 

Substitute (8 - 5x) for 3y into (2). 

(2)-----> 2x - (8 - 5x) + 1  =  0

2x - 8 + 5x + 1  =  0

7x - 7  =  0

Add 7 to each side.

7x  =  7

Divide each side by 7.

x  =  1

Step 3 :

Substitute 1 for x into (3).

(3)-----> 3y  =  8 - 5(1)

3y  =  8 - 5

3y  =  3

Divide each side by 3.

y  =  1

Therefore, the solution is 

(x, y)  =  (1, 1)

Example 3 : 

Solve for x and y : 

4x - 7y  =  0

8x - y - 26  =  0

Solution : 

4x - 7y  =  0 -----(1)

8x - y - 26  =  0 -----(2)

Step 1 :

Solve (1) for 4x. 

4x - 7y  =  0

Add 7y to each side. 

4x  =  7y -----(3)

Step 2 : 

Substitute 7y for 4x into (2). 

(2)-----> 8x - y - 26  =  0

2(4x) - y - 26  =  0

2(7y) - y - 26  =  0

Simplify.

14y - y - 26  =  0

13y - 26  =  0

Add 26 to each side.

13y  =  26

Divide each side by 13.

y  =  2

Step 3 :

Substitute 2 for y into (3).

(3)-----> 4x  =  7(2)

4x  =  14

Divide each side by 4.

x  =  3.5

Therefore, the solution is 

(x, y)  =  (3.5, 2)

After having gone through the stuff given above, we hope that the students would have understood how to solve system of equations by substitution. 

Apart from the stuff given in this section, if you need any other stuff in math, please use our google custom search here.

You can also visit our following web pages on different stuff in math. 

WORD PROBLEMS

HCF and LCM  word problems

Word problems on simple equations 

Word problems on linear equations 

Word problems on quadratic equations

Algebra word problems

Word problems on trains

Area and perimeter word problems

Word problems on direct variation and inverse variation 

Word problems on unit price

Word problems on unit rate 

Word problems on comparing rates

Converting customary units word problems 

Converting metric units word problems

Word problems on simple interest

Word problems on compound interest

Word problems on types of angles 

Complementary and supplementary angles word problems

Double facts word problems

Trigonometry word problems

Percentage word problems 

Profit and loss word problems 

Markup and markdown word problems 

Decimal word problems

Word problems on fractions

Word problems on mixed fractrions

One step equation word problems

Linear inequalities word problems

Ratio and proportion word problems

Time and work word problems

Word problems on sets and venn diagrams

Word problems on ages

Pythagorean theorem word problems

Percent of a number word problems

Word problems on constant speed

Word problems on average speed 

Word problems on sum of the angles of a triangle is 180 degree

OTHER TOPICS 

Profit and loss shortcuts

Percentage shortcuts

Times table shortcuts

Time, speed and distance shortcuts

Ratio and proportion shortcuts

Domain and range of rational functions

Domain and range of rational functions with holes

Graphing rational functions

Graphing rational functions with holes

Converting repeating decimals in to fractions

Decimal representation of rational numbers

Finding square root using long division

L.C.M method to solve time and work problems

Translating the word problems in to algebraic expressions

Remainder when 2 power 256 is divided by 17

Remainder when 17 power 23 is divided by 16

Sum of all three digit numbers divisible by 6

Sum of all three digit numbers divisible by 7

Sum of all three digit numbers divisible by 8

Sum of all three digit numbers formed using 1, 3, 4

Sum of all three four digit numbers formed with non zero digits

Sum of all three four digit numbers formed using 0, 1, 2, 3

Sum of all three four digit numbers formed using 1, 2, 5, 6