14.3 Solving simultaneous equations graphically — Practise with help
Work each question first. Open a hint if you need one, then reveal the working to check your method.
Warm-up: remember
Answer these from memory. Do not look back at the section.
- How far right and how far down is the point from the origin?
- For , find when and when .
Check the warm-up
- 3 right and 2 down.
- and .
If an answer differs, revisit Section 11.1 for plotting coordinates and drawing straight-line graphs.
Practise with help
1. Complete a table for when .
Hint
Substitute each value into the right side of the equation.
Full working
When , ; when , ; when , . Plot , , and , then draw a straight line through them.
2. Find the intersection of and using a table or graph.
Hint
Choose values, calculate both values, and look for a matching pair.
Full working
At , both equations give . The lines meet at . Check: and .
3. The two lines are and . Which method could find their crossing exactly? Work it out.
Hint
At the crossing the two expressions for have the same value.
Full working
Set . Then , so . Substitute to get . The intersection is .