Unit 7 Skills Review

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You will be required to demonstrate a mastery of the following skills on the Unit 7 Test.

1)  Know your linear equation FORMS!
Slope-intercept form:  y = mx + b
Standard form:   Ax + By = C

You absolutely-positively need to be comfortable converting linear equations from one form to another!  (see Unit 5 for a review of this topic)
2)  Solve Systems of Linear Equations by GRAPHING

Mastery of this skill is NOTHING MORE than being able to graph a single linear equation, except that you graph more than one equation on a single coordinate plane and see if there are any points in common.  As we have seen, there are three possibilities for a system of TWO linear equations:

1)  The lines intersect in a single point (one solution)
2)  The lines are parallel (no solution)
3)  The lines are the same line (infinitely many solutions)

 

3)  Solve Systems of Linear Equations using the SUBSTITUTION METHOD

Recognize when it is appropriate to use the substitution method.

1) One of the equations gives you a clear "x=" or "y=".

2) Both equations are in slope-intercept form.
4)  Solve Systems of Linear Equations using the ELIMINATION METHOD

Recognize when it is appropriate to use the elimination method.

1)  When both equations are in standard form and like terms will cancel:

2)  When both equations are in standard form and a transformation can be made to one or both equations so that like terms will cancel:
5) Solve REAL WORLD problems involving systems of equations.  See the Unit 7 problem sets and other homework examples for review.

TIPS for solving word problems:

1) Read the problem (then read it again!)
2) Find & define the unknowns
3) Find relationships between the unknowns
4) State the relationships as equations
5) Now the easy part - just SOLVE!

See the tips as well (3 pages worth)!  
   
  GOOD LUCK!!

 

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