Suppose that we were given the following equations: x + y = 25
We have two different equations with two unknowns - this is enough information for us to solve them both (that is, find the values of x and y). We call these simultaneous equations because we use them at the same time. In the second equations, we can solve immediately for x (see the algebra pages if you're not happy with this): 3x = 15 so x = 5 Now we put this value of x (called substitution) into the first equation: 5 + y = 25 so y = 20 So the only correct solution for the two equations given at the top of the page is x = 5 and y = 20.
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