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5 Linear Equations: 5.1 Solution of A Linear Equation With One Variable

The document discusses solving linear equations with one variable. It provides examples of solving equations algebraically by adding or subtracting the same quantity to both sides of the equation and then simplifying. It also discusses solving pairs of linear equations with two variables simultaneously by substitution or elimination. Solving two linear equations simultaneously yields a unique solution, which represents the point where the two lines intersect geometrically.

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167 views7 pages

5 Linear Equations: 5.1 Solution of A Linear Equation With One Variable

The document discusses solving linear equations with one variable. It provides examples of solving equations algebraically by adding or subtracting the same quantity to both sides of the equation and then simplifying. It also discusses solving pairs of linear equations with two variables simultaneously by substitution or elimination. Solving two linear equations simultaneously yields a unique solution, which represents the point where the two lines intersect geometrically.

Uploaded by

tamleduc1810dn
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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5

5.1

Linear Equations
Solution of a linear Equation with one Variable

A linear equation contains no indices greater than 1 of the variable x (say), e.g. 3x 5 = 7 is a linear equation but 3x2 5 = 7 is a non-linear equation. A linear equation can be represented pictorially as a straight line see Topic 6. The two sides of an equation are like the two sides of a set of scales in equilibrium. Whatever you do to one side you must do to the other side to preserve the equilibrium.

L.H.S.

R.H.S.

Examples: (a) Solve 3x 5 = 7 Solution: 3x 5 + 5 = 7 + 5 3x = 12 3x 12 = 3 3 x = 4 adding 5 to each side simplifying dividing both sides by 3 simplifying

Check by substituting x = 4 in the original equation i.e. L.H.S. = 3 4 5 = 12 5 = 7 = R.H.S. is the correct solution.

x = 4 51

(b) Solve 4(x 1) + 2 = 2x 5

Solution

4x 4 + 2 = 2x 5 4x 2 = 2x 5 4x 2 + 2 = 2x 5 + 2 4x = 2x 3 4x 2x = 2x 3 2x 2x = 3 3 2x = 2 2 1 x = 1 2

Check:

1 L.H.S. = 4 1 1 + 2 2 1 = 4 2 +2 2 = 10 + 2 = 8 R.H.S. = 2 1 1 2 = 3 5 = 8 5

when x = 1

1 2

when x = 1

1 2

= L.H.S. 1 x = 1 is the correct solution. 2

Note: While checking is seldom required in a problem, it is a useful exercise especially if you are asked to use the answer in some further problem. So, make a habit of checking. 52

Exercises 5.1: Solve (i) 3x 1 = 5 (ii) 4x + 2 = 9 (iii) 6 2x = 1 (iv) 5x + 1 = 9 (v) 3x + 1 = x 5 (vi) 6x 1 = 3 2x (vii) 2 3(x 2) = x + 4 (viii) 5(x 1) + 1 = 2(x 2). In general, a linear equation in one variable has just one solution, i.e., a unique solution. [Examples of linear equations in one variable which do not have a unique solution are 3 x+ 4 3 = 3x + 4 and 3x + 4 = 3(x + 4).

In the rst equation, both sides of the equation are identical and so any value of x will satisfy the equation and hence there will be an innite number of solutions. In the second equation, 3x + 4 = 3x + 12, which is a contradiction, so no solution is possible.] A linear equation in more than one variable will not have a unique solution, e.g. 3x + 4y = 2 (see Section 2 below).

53

5.2

Linear Equations in two Variables

Examples:
3 (a) 3x + 4y = 0 i.e. y = 4 x has an innite number of solutions which may be

tabulated thus: x y -1
3 4

0 0

1
3 -4

4 3

2 -1 1 2

-1

, y = 1. For every value of x, there is a value of y , e.g., x = 4 3 (b) 3x + 4y = 2 i.e. y =


1 2

x y

3x 4

has a innite number of solutions, e.g. -1 11 4 0


1 2

1 1 4

4 3

2 -1

1 2

Exercise 5.2: Solve 2x y = 3

5.3

Pair of Linear Equations in two Variables

Suppose we are given the equations 3x + 4y = 2 and x + y = 3. Each equation separately has an innite number of solutions. Taken together, however, these two equations have a unique solution. The equations are then said to be solved simultaneously i.e., at the same time. There are two equivalent methods of solution to this problem. Example: Solve 3x + 4y = 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (i) x+y =3 First solution: (ii) (4) : (iii) (i) : 4x + 4y = 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (iii) 3x + 4y = 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (i) x = 10 54 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (ii) simultaneous linear equations

Substitute in (ii): 10 + y = 3 10 + y 10 = 3 10 y = 7 x = 10 the unique solution is y = 7 Always substitute these values of x and y in (i), (ii) to check the correctness of the

solution. Second solution: Write (i), (ii) as 3 1 y = x + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (i) 4 2 y = x + 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (ii)


3 (i) , (ii) give 4 x+ 1 2

= x + 3 (= y ) which we solve as in Topic 5, Section 1. 3 1 1 x+ 4 2 2 3 x 4 3 x+x 4 1 x 4 1 x4 4 x = x + 3 = x + 2 = = = =


1 2

1 2

1 2 1 x + 2 + x 2 1 2 2 1 2 4 2 10
1 2

3 Substitute for x in (i) : y = 4 10 +

= 7 1 + 2

= 7

Substitute for x in (ii) : y = 10 + 3 = 7 x = 10 the unique solution is y = 7 [The checking of the solution is inherent in the process.]

55

Exercises 5.3: (i) Solve (a) 2x + 3y = 10, 3x 2y = 11 (b) 5x 2y = 1, 2x = 4 y (ii) Why do the pairs of equations (a) x y = 5, 3x 3y = 4 (b) x y = 5, 3x 3y = 15 not have a unique solution?

5.4

Geometrical Interpretation

The unique solution of 2 simultaneous linear equations gives the unique point of intersection of 2 straight lines. See the next Topic, Graphs of Straight Lines.

56

5.5
5.1: (i) 2

Answers to Exercises

(iii) 2 1 2 (iv) 2

(v) 3 (vi)
1 2

(vii) 1 (viii) 0

(ii) 1 3 4 5.2:

x = . . . , 1, 5.3: (i) (a) x = 1, y = 4 (b) x = 1, y = 2

0,

1, 1 1 , 2, . . . 2 0, 1, . . .

y = . . . , 5, 3, 1,

are some solutions.

(ii) (a) the two equations are inconsistent. (if x y = 5 is true, then 3x 3y = 3(x y ) = 3 5 = 15, not 4) (b) the second equation is exactly 3 times the rst equation, i.e., there is only one (independent) equation, i.e., the equations are not independent.

57

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