How to solve simultaneous equations using bar models

Part ofMathsSimultaneous equations

  • Simultaneous equations are two linear equations that can be solved using bar models.

  • By remembering that the same letter will always have the same value we can work out the missing values.

  • To solve simultaneous equations we must work out the value of x and y that make the equations work.

How do you solve simultaneous equations using bar models?

Have a go yourself

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  1. A whiteboard with six boxes in two rows of three. Firstly, there is a blue box with y written in it, below which is a black box with 3 written in it. Next are two red boxes with x written in them, below which are two black boxes with 2 written in them. A left hand with a marker in it is just below the number 3 and a right hand is holding the bottom right edge of the whiteboard. There is a graphic in the bottom right of the image saying: Step-by-step.

    Click to see a step-by-step slideshow.

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