METHODS OF SUBSTITUTION AND APPLCIATION

INTRODUCTION

The method of solving "by substitution" works by solving one of the equations (you
choose which one) for one of the variables (you choose which one), and then plugging this
back into the other equation, "substituting" for the chosen variable and solving for the other.
Then you back-solve for the first variable. The substitution method is most useful for
systems of 2 equations in 2 unknowns. The main idea here is that we solve one of the
equations for one of the unknowns, and then substitute the result into the other equation.

STEPS

Substitution method can be applied in four steps

Step 1:

Solve one of the equations for either x = or y = .

Step 2:

Substitute the solution from step 1 into the other equation.

Step 3:

Solve this new equation.

Step 4:

Solve for the second variable.

EXAMPLE 1:

Solve the following system by substitution

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Solution:

It does not matter which equation we choose first and which second. Just choose the
most convenient one first!

Step 1: Solve one of the equations for either x = or y = . We will solve second equation for y.

Step 2: Substitute the solution from step 1 into the second equation.

Step 3: Solve this new equation.

Step 4: Solve for the second variable

The solution is: (x, y) = (10, -5)

EXAMPLE 2:

Solve by substitution

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Solution:

Step 1: Solve one of the equations for either x = or y =. Since the coefficient of y in
equation 2 is -1, it is easiest to solve for y in equation 2.

Step 2: Substitute the solution from step 1 into the second equation.

Step 3: Solve this new equation ( for x ).

Step 4: Solve for the second variable

The solution is: (x, y) = (1, 2)

EXAMPLE 3:

Solve the following system by substitution.

2x 3y = 2

4x + y = 24

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 The idea here is to solve one of the equations for one of the variables, and plug this
into the other equation. It does not matter which equation or which variable you pick. There
is no right or wrong choice; the answer will be the same, regardless. But some choices may
be better than others. For instance, in this case, can you see that it would probably be simplest
to solve the second equation for "y =", since there is already a y floating around loose in the
middle there? I could solve the first equation for either variable, but I'd get fractions, and
solving the second equation for x would also give me fractions. It wouldn't be "wrong" to
make a different choice, but it would probably be more difficult. Being lazy, I'll solve the
second equation for y:

4x + y = 24

y = 4x + 24

Now I'll plug this in ("substitute it") for "y" in the first equation, and solve for x:

2x 3(4x + 24) = 2

2x + 12x 72 = 2

14x = 70

x=5

Now I can plug this x-value back into either equation, and solve for y. But since I
already have an expression for "y =", it will be simplest to just plug into this:

y = 4(5) + 24 = 20 + 24 = 4

Then the solution is (x, y) = (5, 4).

Warning: If I had substituted my "4x + 24" expression into the same equation as I'd
used to solve for "y =", I would have gotten a true, but useless, statement:

4x + (4x + 24) = 24=> 4x 4x + 24 = 24 => 24 = 24

Twenty-four does equal twenty-four, but who cares? So when using substitution,
make sure you substitute into the other equation, or you'll just be wasting your time.

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REAL TIME APPLICATION

USING SUBSTITUTION TO DEVELOP IMAGINATION

The students are asked to give meaning to the symbolised mathematics by substituting
the symbols with a narrative or story. For example:

The expression x/n + 3n could be about a group of people (x) who in equal numbers
boarded a number of buses (n). There were some people who arrived late and each
bus had to accommodate another three people.

The expression 1.3(2100m) could have come from the expression 1.3 [3(700)m] and
be about 700 space aliens who landed in Udaipur. This was their first time in India.
They saw that people seemed to like a drink called chai. They tried it, loved it so
much that they had three cups each. When they wanted to pay for the tea they were so
pleased with the quality of the chai and the service they had received that they paid a
tip of 30 per cent.

CONCLUSION

Systems of Equations may also be referred to as "simultaneous equations". The

substitution method is used to eliminate one of the variables by replacement when solving a
system of equations. Think of it as "grabbing" what one variable equals from one equation
and "plugging" it into the other equation.

REFERENCES

http://www.purplemath.com/modules/systlin4.htm
http://www.mathportal.org/algebra/solving-system-of-linear-
equations/substitution-method.php
http://www.regentsprep.org/regents/math/algebra/ae3/algsys.htm
www.mathplanet.com/the-substitution-method-for-solving-linear-system
https://www.khanacademy.org/substitution
http://www.open.edu/openlearnworks/mod/oucontent/view.php?
id=51564&printable=1