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Q: Could variables other than x and y be used in a system of equations?
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How do you do systems of equations?

There are several methods to do this; the basic idea is to reduce, for example, a system of three equations with three variables, to two equations with two variables. Then repeat, until you have only one equation with one variable. Assuming only two variables, for simplicity: One method is to solve one of the equations for one of the variables, then replace in the other equation. Another is to multiply one of the equations by some constant, the other equation by another constant, then adding the resulting equations together. The constants are chosen so that one of the variables disappear. Specifically for linear equations, there are various advanced methods based on matrixes and determinants.


How do you solve a system of equation with 3 equations and 3 variables?

If you know matrix algebra, the process is simply to find the inverse for the matrix of coefficients and apply that to the vector of answers. If you don't: You solve these in the same way as you would solve a pair of simultaneous linear equations in two unknowns - either by substitution or elimination. For example, change the subject of one of the equations to express one of the variables in terms of the other two. Substitute this value into the other two equations. When simplified, you will have two linear equations in two variables.


What are the variables in this equation 3ab plus c over 2?

The variables of this equation are your letters: a, b, and c. Variables merely stand in an equation to represent values that we don't know. "Solving" an equation is the process by which we uncover those values. In this particular case, since there are three variables, we cannot discover their values unless we have two other equivalent equations (a system of equations).


How do you solve three nonlinear equations in three parameters?

There isn't a universal way to do this, just like there isn't a universal way to solve nonlinear equations in one variable. A good place to start, however, would be to attempt to solve an equation for one of the variables, in terms of the other two. If you substitute that into the other equations, you will then have a system of two equations in two variables. Do this again, and you'll have a single variable equation that you'll hopefully know how to solve.


What kind of system has infinitely many solutions?

In order for a system to have infinitely many solutions, it must contain an equation that could be solved by any set of variables. In simple terms, a two-variable system can only be solved through two distinct equations; however, if one of these equations becomes meaningless, or could be solved by any set of variables, the other equation becomes meaningless as well because any value of y could match a given value of x. In terms of linear algebra, or any set or matrices meant to represent a system, infinitely many solutions occur due to an all 0 row. After the system is reduced to row echelon form, an all 0 row indicates that all coefficients in a given equation are equal to 0, so it does not matter what the variables are. This means that the number of equations no longer equals the number of variables and it becomes impossible to solve through cancellation and back-substitution.

Related questions

What is the elimination methods?

A method for solving a system of linear equations; like terms in equations are added or subtracted together to eliminate all variables except one; The values of that variable is then used to find the values of other variables in the system. :)


Translate this word problem as a system of equations and then solve using substitution?

A system of equations is two or more equations that share at least one variable. Once you have determined your equations, solve for one of the variables and substitute in that solution to the other equation.


What is usually the first step in solving a system of equation by substitution?

The first step is to solve one of the equations for one of the variables. This is then substituted into the other equation or equations.


How do you do systems of equations?

There are several methods to do this; the basic idea is to reduce, for example, a system of three equations with three variables, to two equations with two variables. Then repeat, until you have only one equation with one variable. Assuming only two variables, for simplicity: One method is to solve one of the equations for one of the variables, then replace in the other equation. Another is to multiply one of the equations by some constant, the other equation by another constant, then adding the resulting equations together. The constants are chosen so that one of the variables disappear. Specifically for linear equations, there are various advanced methods based on matrixes and determinants.


How do you solve a system of equation with 3 equations and 3 variables?

If you know matrix algebra, the process is simply to find the inverse for the matrix of coefficients and apply that to the vector of answers. If you don't: You solve these in the same way as you would solve a pair of simultaneous linear equations in two unknowns - either by substitution or elimination. For example, change the subject of one of the equations to express one of the variables in terms of the other two. Substitute this value into the other two equations. When simplified, you will have two linear equations in two variables.


What are the variables in this equation 3ab plus c over 2?

The variables of this equation are your letters: a, b, and c. Variables merely stand in an equation to represent values that we don't know. "Solving" an equation is the process by which we uncover those values. In this particular case, since there are three variables, we cannot discover their values unless we have two other equivalent equations (a system of equations).


What is an equation with only variables?

There is no specific name. It could be a linear or more complicated polynomial equations, it could be trigonometric, exponential or any one of many other types. It could be a combination of these


How do you solve three nonlinear equations in three parameters?

There isn't a universal way to do this, just like there isn't a universal way to solve nonlinear equations in one variable. A good place to start, however, would be to attempt to solve an equation for one of the variables, in terms of the other two. If you substitute that into the other equations, you will then have a system of two equations in two variables. Do this again, and you'll have a single variable equation that you'll hopefully know how to solve.


What kind of system has infinitely many solutions?

In order for a system to have infinitely many solutions, it must contain an equation that could be solved by any set of variables. In simple terms, a two-variable system can only be solved through two distinct equations; however, if one of these equations becomes meaningless, or could be solved by any set of variables, the other equation becomes meaningless as well because any value of y could match a given value of x. In terms of linear algebra, or any set or matrices meant to represent a system, infinitely many solutions occur due to an all 0 row. After the system is reduced to row echelon form, an all 0 row indicates that all coefficients in a given equation are equal to 0, so it does not matter what the variables are. This means that the number of equations no longer equals the number of variables and it becomes impossible to solve through cancellation and back-substitution.


How doI solve system of equations by substitution?

Assuming the simplest case of two equations in two variable: solve one of the equations for one of the variables. Substitute the value found for the variable in all places in which the variable appears in the second equation. Solve the resulting equation. This will give you the value of one of the variables. Finally, replace this value in one of the original equations, and solve, to find the other variable.


How do you work a simultaneous equation?

You cannot work a simultaneous equation. You require a system of equations. How you solve them depends on their nature: two or more linear equations are relatively easy to solve by eliminating variables - one at a time and then substituting these values in the earlier equations. For systems of equations containing non-linear equations it is simpler to substitute for variable expression for one of the variables at the start and working towards the other variable(s).


When can two equations be equal?

Two equations are equal when the result of the functions of the numbers and variables of one equation match the results of the other equation.