Simultaneous Linear Equations – a variety of methods

Task: { x, y : 2 x + 3 y = 8 and y − 5 x = 1}
A. By hand (") –well almost!
This method is ideal as students must set up the process correctly and the CAS
takes care of the algebra.

Method 1. Elimination

Create New Document (CTRL+N). If a Save dialog box

appears select “Don’t Save”, press Enter. Select
Calculator.
Type in the first equation and press Enter. Repeat for the
second equation.
Press ×3 to “set up elimination of y. ans will show
automatically when you press the multiplication sign and
replace with full answer when you press Enter to complete
the line.
Subtract the equations as shown. Use parentheses to
enclose each side. To copy existing equations press the up
arrow until equation is highlighted and press Enter to paste
on the edit line.
Press ÷ -17 solve for x.

Select the second equation using the up arrow to highlight

and Enter to paste. Press | to insert the “with or condition”
5
sign. Select x = using the up arrow to highlight and
17
Enter to paste.
25
Press + to solve for y. (ans will be pasted automatically
17
when you press +)
Alternatively assign the equations to names such as eqn1
& eqn2. This is similar to the method currently used by
many classroom teachers.
To assign a variable name use name:=

Use similar procedure as above. Rather than typing eqn1

and eqn2 each time, press VAR and select the relevant
defined variable.

To add a new Calculator page press the HOME key (or CTRL+I) and select Calculator

© Texas Instruments Australia Author:Russell Brown 2008 1

Method 2. Substitution

To add a comment, press Menu/Actions/Insert Comment.

Equation 2 is rearranged to make y the subject.

This rearranged equation is then substituted into the other

equation using the | symbol as show opposite.

Note: The substitution must be in the form variable =

i.e. eqn1|y-5x=1 or eqn1|eqn2 would not work in the

example shown.
Complete as in the elimination method shown earlier.

B. Using the built-in CAS function “Solve”

Depending on your preference you can assign variable

names or use the full equations in the Solve command.
Press Menu/Algebra/Solve to paste solve( )

To access the multiple equation template:

Press CTRL+× to display the templates.

Select the template highlighted above.

Once equations are typed in, use the right cursor arrow to
move into position to type x,y as shown.

Alternative syntax:
Press Menu/Algebra/Solve to paste in solve( )
Enter equations as shown opposite.
“and” can be pasted from the Catalog (Book symbol on
keypad) or can be typed in (if typed make sure you have a
space either side)

Note that it is not necessary to put “with respect to both

variables” but it is good practice.
i.e. solve(2x+3y=8 and y-5x=1,x) will also work.

© Texas Instruments Australia Author:Russell Brown 2008 2

C. Using Matrices

Method 1. Using [A]-1[B]

Press CTRL+× to access the Templates.

Select the template highlighted above. This matrix

template chosen allows you to create any size matrix.
Type in values based on x,y coefficients to create matrix A
(called mata in the above example)
Type in values based on constants to create matrix B
(called matb in the above example)

Press VAR key to paste the variables (use ^ -1 to get

inverse mata)
If you want approximate solutions press CTRL + = or
press Menu/Number/Convert to Decimal

Method 2. Using Reduced Row Echelon Form (rref)

⎡ x coeff y coeff constant ⎤
Create and assign a matrix ⎢ ⎥
⎣ x coeff y coeff constant ⎦
as shown.

Press Menu/Matrix & Vector/ Reduced-Row-Echelon

Form to paste rref(. Press VAR to paste in assigned
matrix variable name.

Using Solve:
⎡x⎤
Define matd:= ⎢ ⎥
⎣ y⎦
Press Menu/Algebra/Solve.
Enter line as : solve(mata*matd=matb, x)
⎛ ⎡ 2 3 ⎤ ⎡ x ⎤ ⎡8 ⎤ ⎞
i.e. solve ⎜ ⎢ ⎥×⎢ ⎥ = ⎢ ⎥, x⎟
⎝ ⎣ −5 1⎦ ⎣ y ⎦ ⎣1⎦ ⎠

© Texas Instruments Australia Author:Russell Brown 2008 3

D. Graphically – solutions are approximate.

As the solutions obtained graphically are approximate it is

useful for comparison reasons to convert exact solutions
obtained by other means to approximate values.
Use Menu/Number/Convert to Decimal

Open a Graphs & Geometry page (CTRL+I and select 2)

Type in equations in “y =” form. After each entry press
Enter to graph the functions.

To change Window settings (if necessary) press

Menu/Window/Window Settings and edit to suit.

For clarity you can change the attributes of the graphs.

Press Menu/Actions/Attributes and then point to the graph.
Use arrow keys to select line attributes. Press Enter to lock
in the selected attributes.

To find the Point of Intersection:

Press Menu/Points & Lines/Intersection Point and then
point to a graph, press Enter (or click) and then point to
the other graph. Press Enter to paste in intersection
coordinates.

Hence { x, y : 2 x + 3 y = 8 and y − 5 x = 1}
5 42
x= (0.2941) y= (2.471)
17 17

© Texas Instruments Australia Author:Russell Brown 2008 4

E. Setting up a Dynamic Simultaneous Equation Solver in Lists & Spreadsheets
CAS operations can be performed in the L&S Application of TI-Nspire CAS.
The shaded cells are assigned expressions or equations. The use of the L&S allows comments and
intermediate steps to be shown. New equations can be entered in cell B3 and cell B4 and the solution
steps will be automatically updated.

Complete the L&S in order of the table below

All text entries in quotation

Column
marks e.g. “Substitution
A
Method”
B2 “Edit ……….B4”
B3 2x+3y=8 (edit as required)
B4 y-5x=1 (edit as required)
C3 eqn1:=b3
C4 eqn2:=b4
C6 eqn3:= solve(eqn1,y)
B6 =c6
C7 eqn4:=eqn2|eqn3
B7 =c7
B9 =solve(eqn4,x)
B10 =eqn1|b9
B12 =solve(b10,y)

Discussing the advantages of simultaneous

equations in Kenya's Northern Frontier District

© Texas Instruments Australia Author:Russell Brown 2008 5

F. A Practical Case:
This example is based on a senior physics problem. The
two linear simultaneous equations given below in bold
print allows the user to practise the various ways of
solving such equations on the TI-Nspire CAS, otherwise
use the standard examples from textbooks such as
comparing mobile phone plans.

Task
Use the Kirchoff circuit laws to determine the current
flowing in each branch of the network shown opposite.

Method
Use the Kirchoff Current Law (KCL) to label the current
directions knowing that conventional current flows from
the positive side of the battery to the negative side. Divide
into two loops and then use the Kirchoff Voltage Law
(KVL).
Solve the simultaneous equations obtained to find the
three currents in the network.

Loop 1
Let V1 = voltage in Loop 1 and I1 = current in Loop 1

V1 = 5V = -I1*R1 + I2*R2 = -5*I1 + 10*I2

∴ -5*I1 + 10* I2 = 5 Equation 1

Loop 2
Let V1 = voltage in Loop 1 and I1 = current in Loop 1

V2 = 10V = I2*R2 + (I1 + I2)*R3 =10*I2 + 2*I1 + 2*I2 =

2*I1 +12*I2

∴ 2*I1+12*I2 = 10 Equation 2

Note the use of approx( ) to force decimal solutions whilst

in Auto mode.

Answers:
I1 = 0.5A
I2 = 0.75A
I1 + I2 = 1.25A (passing through R3)

© Texas Instruments Australia Author:Russell Brown 2008 6