How to work with Simultaneous Equations
Before you start revising how to complete simultaneous equations -have you ever wondered how and why Maths even came about?
The word mathematics actually comes from the Greek language. It is derived from the word máthēma, meaning “that which is learnt”. However, humans began using maths many years before the word came into existence.
Maths developed because of our need to do things like measure time, count, and track seasons. As ancient civilisations developed, the need for more sophisticated number systems for trade also increased.
The oldest mathematical artefact which still exists is the Ishango Bone. Believed to be approximately 20,000 years old, it is named after the area in central Africa where it was discovered. It is about 10cm long, and has on it a series of notches which scientists believe were for counting. The grouping of the notches suggest there was even an understanding of decimal or prime numbers.
More recently, but still almost 10,000 years ago, in ancient Mesopotamia, merchants used counters to represent quantities, a little like we use money. Thousands of these different shaped clay counters have been found across the Middle East. Different shaped counters represented different amounts of grain. Around 3200 BC, more advanced tablets were created – where counters were pressed into the clay, thus providing a record. There are even old clay tablets, dating from around 2700 BC, which have multiplication tables pressed into them in cuneiform (an ancient system of writing)
For help with simultaneous equations, try our new guide “How to work with Simultaneous Equations”. It includes an explanation of how to solve these equations by elimination. You can revise how to form and solve simultaneous equations from problem questions. You will also find questions to try, and answers to check understanding.
Click the picture below to see the guide.
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