QA – 2 Equations

2 variables and 2 equations

There are 4 common ways to solve them:
(a) Elimination method
(b) Substitution method
(c) Comparison method
(d) Cross multiplication method
Elimination method is the most common method. Cross multiplication is to be rarely if ever
used.

A. Elimination Method
2x + 3y = 7 …. (i)
3x + 4y = 10 …. (ii)
Multiply Eq. (i) by 4 and (2) by 3.
8x + 12y = 28
9x + 12y = 30
-x + 0 = -2
⇒ x=2
Substitute x = 2 in Eq. (i)
2(2) + 3y = 7
⇒ y=1
∴x = 2 and y = 1
We can eliminate x by multiplying (i) by 3 and (ii) by 2 and the subtract the resulting equations.

B. Substitution Method
Example 1:
2x + 3y = 7 …. (i)
3x + 4y = 10 …. (ii)
Express y in terms of x from Eq. (i)
…. (iii)
Substitute this value of y in Eq. (ii)

( )
⇒ 9x + 28 – 8x = 30 ⇒ x=2
Substitute x = 2 in Eq. (iii)
x = 2, y =1
We can express x in terms of y for one equation and substitute this value in other.

Proprietary and Confidential ABS Classes 1

QA – 2 Equations

Example 2:

(i) x + 3y = 10
(ii) (ii) 2x -y = 6
We have x + 3y = 10 (1)
2x – y = 6 (2)
From equation (1), x = (10 – 3y)Substituting this value of x in equation (2),
2 x (10– 3y) – y = 6
⇒ y = 2 and corresponding value of x = 4.

C. Comparison Method
2x + 3y = 7 …. (i)
3x + 4y = 10 …. (ii)
From Eq. (i) x= ….(iii)
From Eq. (ii) x = ….(iv)
Comparing Eq. (iii) and (iv)

⇒ ( ) ( )
⇒
⇒ y=1 ….(v)
Substitute the value of y in Eq. (iii)
( )

∴ and
We can compare the value of y in terms of x.

D. Cross Multiplication Method

i) 2x + 3y = 7
ii) 3x + 4y = 10

If there are two simultaneous equations

and , where ≠0
then,

[ ]

Proprietary and Confidential ABS Classes 2

QA – 2 Equations

Here a1 = 2 b1 = 3 c1 = 7
a2 = 3 b2 = 4 c2 = 10
∴ ( ) ( ) ( )
⇒
⇒ and

Solved Examples
1) Solve the following equations 3x + 5y = 9 and 2x + 3y = 4
(e) by substitution method
(f) by elimination method
(g) by comparison method

(a)Substitution
3x + 5y = 9 …. (i)
2x + 3y = 4 …. (ii)
Express y in terms of x from Eq. (i)
…. (iii)
Substitute this value of y in Eq. (ii)
( )
⇒ 10x + 27 – 9x = 20 ⇒ x=–7
Substitute x = 7 in Eq. (iii)
x = – 7, y = 6

We can express x in terms of y for one equation and substitute this value in other.

(b) Elimination
3x + 5y = 9 ….(i)
2x + 3y = 4 ….(ii)
Multiply Eq. (i) by 3 and (2) by 5.
9x + 15y = 27
10x + 15y = 20
-x + 0 = 7
⇒ x = -7

Proprietary and Confidential ABS Classes 3

QA – 2 Equations

Substitute x = – 7 in Eq. (i)

3(– 7) + 5y = 9
⇒ – 21 + 5y = 9
⇒ y=6
∴x = – 7 and y = 6
We can eliminate x by multiplying (i) by 2 and (ii) by 3 and the subtract the resulting equations.

(c)Comparison
3x + 5y = 9 ….(i)
2x + 3y = 4 ….(ii)
From Eq. (i) x= ….(iii)
From Eq. (ii) x = ….(iv)
Comparing Eq. (iii) and (iv)

⇒ ( ) ( )
⇒
⇒ y=6 ….(v)
Substitute the value of y in Eq. (iii)
( )

∴ and
We can compare the value of y in terms of x.

2) Solve the equations 3x + 5y = 9 and 2x + 3y = 4 by cross multiplication method.

If there are two simultaneous equations
and , where ≠ 0
then,

[ ]

Here a1 = 3 b1 = 5 c1 = 9
a2 = 3 b2 = 5 c2 = 9
∴ ( ) ( ) ( )
⇒
⇒ and

Proprietary and Confidential ABS Classes 4

QA – 2 Equations

3) Solve for x and y

( ) ( )
( )

( ) ( )
⇒ ….(i)
and ( )
⇒ ….(ii)
Multiply Eq. (2) by 3 and subtract from (1)

– + –

Substitute in Eq. (2), we get y = 1

∴ and y = 1

4) Solve for x and y

( )

SOLUTION
⇒ (multiply both sides by 100)
⇒ ….(1)
and ( )
⇒ ( ) (multiply both sides by 10)
⇒ ….(2)
Multiply Eq. (1) by 4 and add to Eq. (2)

⇒
Substitute x = 100, in Eq. (1), we get
Y = 50
∴ x = 100 and y = 50.

5) Solve for x and y

,

Proprietary and Confidential ABS Classes 5

QA – 2 Equations

SOLUTION ( )
⇒ ….(1)
and
⇒ ….(2)
Subtract Eq. (2) from (1)

– + –
⇒

Substitute in Eq. (2), we get

∴ and

6) Solve for x and y

,

SOLUTION ….(1)

….(2)

Let and
∴ ….(3)
and ….(4)
Multiply Eq. (3) by 2

A = 1/2
Substitute A = in Eq. (1) we get
B=
and

7) Solve for x and y

Proprietary and Confidential ABS Classes 6

QA – 2 Equations

SOLUTION Let and

∴ 2A + 3B = ⇒ …(1)
and 5A + B = 2 …(2)
Multiply Eq. (2) by 2 and subtract from (1)
10A + 15B = 17
10A + 2B = 4
– – –
13B = 13 ⇒ B = 1
Substitute B = 1 in E. (2), we get A =
Now, ⇒ ….(3)

and ⇒ ….(4)
∴ Add Eq. (3) to Eq. (4)

⇒
Substitute in Eq. (3) we get
∴ and

8) Solve for x and y

( ) ( )
( ) ( )

SOLUTION
( ) ( )
⇒ ….(i)
and ( ) ( )
⇒ ….(ii)
subtract from (1)

– + –

Substitute in Eq. (2), we get x = 50

∴ and y = 20

Proprietary and Confidential ABS Classes 7

QA – 2 Equations

9) Solve for x and y

( )

SOLUTION
⇒ (multiply both sides by 100)
⇒ ….(1)
and
⇒ (multiply both sides by 10)
⇒ ….(2)
Multiply Eq. (1) by 2 and multiply equation (2) by 3 and subtract from equ (1)

Substitute y = 600, in Eq. (1), we get

x = -700
∴ x = -700 and y = 600.

10) Solve for x and y

( )
x= ,

( )
SOLUTION x=
⇒ ….(1)
and
⇒ ….(2)
Multiply equ (1) by 2 and Subtract Eq. (2) from (1)

– + –
⇒

Substitute in Eq. (2), we get

∴ and

Proprietary and Confidential ABS Classes 8

QA – 2 Equations

11) Solve for x and y

,

SOLUTION ….(1)

….(2)

Let and
∴ ….(3)
and ….(4)
Adding
A=2
Substitute A = 2 in Eq. (1) we get
B=
and

12) Solve for x and y

SOLUTION Let and

∴ 2A + 3B = ⇒ …(1)
and 5A + B = 2 …(2)
Multiply Eq. (2) by 2 and subtract from (1)
10A + 15B = 17
10A + 2B = 4
– – –
13B = 13 ⇒ B = 1
Substitute B = 1 in E. (2), we get A =
Now, ⇒ ….(3)

and ⇒ ….(4)
∴ Add Eq. (3) to Eq. (4)

Proprietary and Confidential ABS Classes 9

QA – 2 Equations

⇒
Substitute in Eq. (3) we get
∴ and

Proprietary and Confidential ABS Classes 10