How many marks is simultaneous equations usually worth?

Between one and four, depending on how many steps the question asks for.

Is this on the Functional Skills Design and Technology paper?

Yes — it sits in the Vectors strand.

Simultaneous equations

Simultaneous equations for Functional Skills Design and Technology: what it means, how to set the working out, and the questions it is asked in.

Functional Skills
Design and Technology
Spec P11 · P14 · P16
10 min read
10 revision boxes

Introduction

2 boxes

4 min read

What is simultaneous equations?

Listen to this box

Transcript

A short spoken summary of simultaneous equations and where it is used.

A spoken walk-through of simultaneous equations before you read the notes.

Work through the method one line at a time and write down what changes at each step.

Worth knowing:

\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}

2 rows

The simultaneous equations reference table

Check the answer against an estimate before you move on, so a place-value slip is caught here.

Term	Meaning	Example	Common slip
Row 1 column 1	Row 1 column 2	$a^2 + b^2 = c^2$	Row 1 column 4
Row 2 column 1	Row 2 column 2	$\times 10$ moves every digit one column left	Row 2 column 4

Learning

6 boxes

5 steps

How to work with simultaneous equations

Read the units in the question before you start; a converted unit is the most common slip.

Worth knowing:

a^2 + b^2 = c^2

Read the question and write down what is being asked for.
Set out the working for simultaneous equations in the order the method gives.
Substitute the values and simplify.
Check the answer against an estimate before writing it down.

Start from the definition and substitute the numbers the question gives you.

Simplify one line at a time:

\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}

Answer:

x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0

2 rules

Key facts: Simultaneous equations

The specification wording is precise here, and the mark scheme follows that wording exactly.

The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing simultaneous equations laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.

Rule 1
How simultaneous equations behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
$\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}$
Rule 2
How simultaneous equations behaves in the 2nd of the cases the specification names.
$\times 10$ moves every digit one column left

5 steps

How to work with simultaneous equations

Work through the method one line at a time and write down what changes at each step.

Read the question and write down what is being asked for.
Set out the working for simultaneous equations in the order the method gives.
Substitute the values and simplify.

Start from the definition and substitute the numbers the question gives you.

Simplify one line at a time:

\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}

Answer:

x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0

3 rules

Key facts: Simultaneous equations

Check the answer against an estimate before you move on, so a place-value slip is caught here.

Rule 1
How simultaneous equations behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
$a^2 + b^2 = c^2$
Rule 2
How simultaneous equations behaves in the 2nd of the cases the specification names.
$\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}$

3 steps

How to work with simultaneous equations

Read the units in the question before you start; a converted unit is the most common slip.

The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing simultaneous equations laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.

Worth knowing:

\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}

Read the question and write down what is being asked for.
Set out the working for simultaneous equations in the order the method gives.
Substitute the values and simplify.
Check the answer against an estimate before writing it down.

Start from the definition and substitute the numbers the question gives you.

Simplify one line at a time:

\approx 160

Answer:

\approx 160

2 rules

Key facts: Simultaneous equations

The specification wording is precise here, and the mark scheme follows that wording exactly.

The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing simultaneous equations laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.

Rule 1
How simultaneous equations behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
$x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0$
Rule 2
How simultaneous equations behaves in the 2nd of the cases the specification names.
$x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0$

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Examples

2 boxes

4 marks · worked

Worked example: simultaneous equations

Read the units in the question before you start; a converted unit is the most common slip.

Worth knowing:

\sqrt{49} = 7

1 marks · worked

Practice question 10: $a^2 + b^2 = c^2$

Practise the routine version until it is automatic, then move to the multi-step questions.

Worth knowing:

\approx 160

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Common questions

How many marks is simultaneous equations usually worth?: Between one and four, depending on how many steps the question asks for.
Is this on the Functional Skills Design and Technology paper?: Yes — it sits in the Vectors strand.

Simultaneous equations

What is simultaneous equations?

The simultaneous equations reference table

How to work with simultaneous equations

Key facts: Simultaneous equations

How to work with simultaneous equations

Key facts: Simultaneous equations

How to work with simultaneous equations

Key facts: Simultaneous equations

Get your predicted grade

Worked example: simultaneous equations

Practice question 10: a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2a2+b2=c2

Thousands of revision questions

Common questions

Practice question 10: $a^2 + b^2 = c^2$