Math
Analysis Honors Name ___________________________
Chapter 8: system solutions
Learning Log: Method Choice
We
have learned a variety of methods to solve a system of equations: substitution,
graphing, elimination, Gaussian elimination using matrices, Gauss-Jordan matrix
elimination and Cramer’s Rule. Reflect
for a few minutes why you might choose one method over another; what are the
circumstances that would make each method more efficient or perhaps more accurate
than another. Perhaps you simply like
one better than another; why? After your
silent reflection, look at the problems below and decide which method is the
better choice for each problem. You may
not choose any method for more than one problem. You do not need to actually solve the systems,
but answer the questions 1 – 8 below.
Problems:
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
1) Of the equations shown, which would you solve using graphing? Why did you pick graphing instead of elimination or substitution? What are possible downsides to the graphing method? 2) Of the equations shown, which would you solve using substitution? Why did you pick substitution instead of elimination or graphing? 3) Of the equations shown, which would you solve using elimination and why? Why would you pick elimination instead of substitution or graphing? 4) Of the equations shown, which would you solve using matrices? Why did you pick matrices instead of using the system of equations? Do you prefer Gaussian elimination or the row reduction method of Gauss-Jordan? Why? 5) Of the equations shown, which would you solve using Cramer’s Rule? Why did you pick Cramer’s Rule instead of one of the other methods? 6) What are the items you look for in a problem to determine if you’ll solve it a) with elimination? b) with substitution? c) graphically? d) using matrices e) using Cramer’s Rule? 7) Which method(s) might be the least accurate? Explain your answer. 8) Which method do you prefer to use and why?