Activities to Teach Students to Solve a System of Equations Using Elimination
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Solving a system of equations is one of the fundamental skills that students learn in their high school math curriculum. In high school algebra, students learn various methods to solve a system of equations, such as substitution, graphing, and elimination. However, solving a system of equations using elimination is often considered the most efficient and straightforward approach.
Elimination is a method of solving a system of equations by adding or subtracting one equation from another to eliminate one variable. This process allows us to solve for the remaining variable and ultimately find the values of both variables. Here are some activities that teachers can use to help their students master the art of solving a system of equations using elimination.
The Balancing Act
This activity requires two equal pans and some small weights or blocks. As a class, select an algebraic equation where both sides of the equation are equal. Write the equation on the board and distribute the weights or blocks among the two pans. Students should then add or subtract the same quantity from both sides of the equation to balance the pans. This simple exercise helps students to visualize the process of adding or subtracting an equation that ultimately eliminates one of the variables.
Cutout Activity
In this activity, students will work in pairs and each pair will receive a set of equations on a sheet of paper. The teacher can provide them with cutouts of the two equations to physically move around. For example, if the equations are:
2x + 3y = 10
3x – 2y = 7
The students can cut out each equation and place them side by side. They can then manipulate the equations to eliminate one variable. For instance, they could multiply the first equation by 2 and the second equation by 3 to eliminate x. Once they have eliminated one variable, they can solve for the other variable and plug that value back into the original equation to solve for the first variable.
Human Graph Activity
To make it more engaging and fun, teachers can create a human graph on the classroom floor using colored tape or ribbon. The teacher can give each student a card with an equation written on it. The students must then stand on the graph based on the values of the equations they have been given. The teacher can then ask other students to solve the system of equations, using elimination, by calling out which students on the graph should move and in what direction to eliminate one variable.
These activities can help students to understand the process of solving a system of equations using elimination. By providing them with hands-on activities, teachers can make the concepts more relatable and help students to master the process. Once students have a good grasp of these activities, they will be able to apply the concepts to more complex problems and be successful in their math studies.