
26 
Mathematics 
First-degree equations in 
2 
unknowns  are of  the form 
alxl 
+ 
b,x, 
= 
c1 
a2xl 
+ 
b,x, 
= 
c2 
The solution is found by  multiplication  of  Equations  a and b by  some factors 
that will  produce one term in each that will, upon addition of Equations a and 
b,  become  zero.  The resulting  equation  may  then  be rearranged  to  solve for 
the  remaining  unknown.  For  example,  by  multiplying  Equation  a  by  a2 and 
Equation b by  -al, adding Equation a and Equation b and rearranging their sum 
and by  substitution  in  Equation  a: 
A 
set of 
n first-degree equations  in n unknowns 
is 
solved in a similar fashion by 
multiplication and addition to eliminate n 
- 
1 
unknowns and then back substitu- 
tion. 
Second-degree eyuations  in 
2 
unknowns 
may  be solved in the same way  when 
two  of the following are given: the product  of the unknowns,  their 
sum 
or dif- 
ference, the sum of their squares. For further solutions, see “Numerical Methods.” 
Determinants 
Determinants  of  the  second  order are of  the  following form and are evalu- 
ated as 
and of  the third order as 
and of higher orders, by  the general rule as follows. 
To 
evaluate a determinant 
of  the nth order, take the eiements of the first column with alternate 
plus 
and 
minus signs and form the sum of the products obtained by  multiplying each of 
these  elements  by  its  corresponding 
minor. 
The minor  corresponding  to  any 
element  en is  the determinant  (of the  next  lowest order) obtained  by  striking 
out from the given determinant the row  and column containing en. 
Some of  the general properties of  determinants  are: 
1. 
Columns  may  be changed  to rows  and rows to columns. 
2. 
Interchanging two adjacent  columns  changes the sign of  the result.