What are simultaneous linear equations?

• When you have more than one equation in more than one unknown, then you are dealing with?simultaneous equations
• An equation is?linear?if none of the unknowns in it is raised to a power other than one
• Solving a?pair of simultaneous equations?means finding?pairs of values?that make?both equations true?at the same time
• A linear equation in two unknowns will produce a straight line if you graph it... linear = line
• A pair of simultaneous equations will produce lines that will cross each other (if there is a solution!)

How do I use elimination to solve simultaneous linear equations?

Step 1:?Multiply one (or both) of the equations by a constant (or constants) to get the numbers in front of?one of the unknowns to match

Step 2:?If the matching numbers have the?same?sign, then?subtract?one equation from the other. If the matching numbers have?different?signs then?add?the equations together

Step 3:?Solve the new equation from Step 2 to find the value of one of the unknowns

Step 4:?Substitute the value from Step 3 into one of the original equations, and solve to find the value of the other unknown

Step 5:?Check?your solution by substituting the values for the two unknowns into the original equation you?didn't?use in Step 4