EQUATIONS

Equations:
When we equate two algebraic expressions using the sign of equality it forms an equation. An equation may contain
one or more variables. If the equation has only one variable then the equation itself is sufficient to obtain the value
of the variable. If the equation has two variables then two consistent equations are required to get the value of the
variables. In general, if an equation has n variables, then n consistent equations are required to obtain all the values
of the n variables.

 To solve an equation in one variable: (Simple Equations)

To solve an equation is one variable, all the terms containing the unknown quantity should be collected on
the left hand side of the equation and constants on the other side. Then the coefficient of the unknown
quantity should be reduced to unity.

Any equation of the first degree having one variable such as x is called a linear equation in one variable.
Example: (a) 2x + 4 = x + 7
2x – x = 7 – 4
x = 3.

(b) 3x + 5 = 11
3x = 11 – 5
3x = 6
6
x= = 2.
3
 To solve equations in two variables: (Simultaneous Equations)

Any equation of the first degree having two variables such as x and y is called a linear equation in two
variables. To solve two linear equations having two variables x and y is to find out ordered pairs that satisfy
both the pair of equations. Each ordered pair that satisfies a pair of equations is called the solution of that
pair of equations and such a pair of equation is called a pair of simultaneous equations or a system of
linear equations.

General Representation: ax + by + c = 0 where a, b, c are real numbers and x, y are variables.

Here a is called coefficient of x, b is called coefficients of y and c is called constant term.

Method of solving Simultaneous linear equation:

1. Substitution method: Suppose we are given two linear equations x and y.

Step 1: Express in terms of x from one of the given equations.

Step 2: Substitute this value of y in the 2nd equation to obtain an equation in x. Solve for x.

Step 3: Substitute the value of x in the relation taken in step 1, to get the value of y.

Note: We may interchange the roles of x and y in the above method.

Example: Solve: 4x + 3y = 14, 3x + 2y = 11

Solution: The given equations are:

4x + 3y = 14 ….(1)

1
 3x + 2y = 11 ….(2)

From [2], we get 3x + 2y = 11

 2y = (11 – 3x)

1
y= (11 – 3x) ….(3)
2

1
Substituting y = (11 – 3x) in equation (1), we get
2

3
4x + (11 – 3x) = 14  8x + 3 (11 – 3x) = 28
2

 8x + 33 – 9x = 28

 –x = 28 – 33 –x = –5

 x = –5

Substituting x = 5 in equation (3), we get

1 1 1
y= (11 – 3 × 5) = (11 – 15) = × (–4) = –2
2 2 2

 x = 5, y = –2 is the solution of the given equations.

2. Elimination Method:

Step 1: Multiply the given equations by suitable constants so as to make the coefficients of one of
the unknowns, numerically equal.

Step 2: Add the new equations, if the numerically equal coefficient are opposite in sign, otherwise
subtract them.

Step 3: Solve the equation so obtained.

Step 4: Substitute the value of this unknown in any of the given equations. Solve it to get the value
of the other unknown.

Example: x + 2y = 7 ---- (1)

x – y=1 ---- (2)

The equations (1) and (2) are a pair of simultaneous equations, having two variables x and y. The
following are the steps to obtain the variables of x and y.

Step I: Multiply all the terms of the second equation with 2 to make the coefficients of y equal in
both the equations.

2x – 2y = 2 ----(3)

Step II: Adding equation (1) and (3)

x + 2y = 7
2x – 2y = 2
3x =9 or x = 3

Step III: Substitute the value of the variable x found in either of equations (1) or (2).

2
 e.g, substituting value of x in (2), we get

x–y=1

3–y=1

–- y = 1 – 3 = –2

y=2

 x = 3, y = 2 is the pair which satisfies both the equations.

 Solution set is {3, 2}

Example: Divide 100 into two parts such that the first part is four times the second.

Solution: Let the first part be = x

 Second part = 100 – x

As per the question x = 4 (100 – x)

or x = 400 – 4x

or x + 4x = 400

or 5x = 400

400
or x =  x = 80
5

 First part = 80 and second part is 100 – 80 = 20

Hence, the required two parts of 100 are 80 and 20.

Example: The sum of two numbers is 58 and their difference is 12. Find the numbers.

Solution: Let one number = (58 – x)

 x – (58 – x) = 12

 x – 58 + x = 12

 2x = 12 + 58 = 70

70
x= = 35
2

 one number = 35 an other is (58 – x) = 35

 other number = 23

Condition for Consistency of Simultaneous linear equations:

A consistent system is a system that has at least one solution. An inconsistent system is a system that has no
solution.

A system of linear equations: a1x + b1y + c1 = 0 and a2x + b2y + c2 = 0 are

a1 b
 Consistent, if  1
a2 b2

3
 a1 b c
 Inconsistent, if = 1  1
a2 b2 c2

Condition for infinite, no & unique solutions of simultaneous linear equations:

If the two lines end up tying on top of each other, then there is an infinite number of solutions. In this situation, they
would end up being the same line, so any solution that would work in one equation is going to work in the other.

If the lines represented by the equation: a1x + b1y + c1 = 0 and a2x + b2y + c2 = 0 are

a1 b
 Intersecting, then  1 (Unique Solution)
a2 b2

a1 b c
 Coincident, then = 1 = 1 (Infinite Solution)
a2 b2 c2

a1 b c
 Parallel then = 1  1 (No Solution)
a2 b2 c2

Example: For what values of k will the following pair of linear equations have infinitely many solutions?
kx + 3y – (k – 3) = 0
12x + ky – k = 0

a1 k b1 3 c k  3
Solution: Here, = , = , 1 =
a2 12 b2 k c2 k
a1 b c
For a pair of linear equations to have finitely many solutions: = 1 = 1
a2 b2 c2

k 3 k  3 k 3
So, we need = = or =
12 k k 12 k
Which gives k2 = 36 i.e., k =  6

3 k  3
Also, = gives 3k = k2 – 3k, i.e. 6k = k2, which means k = 0 or k = 6.
k k
Therefore, the value of k, that satisfies both the conditions, is k = 6. For this value, the pair of linear equations has
infinitely many solutions.
Example: In each of the following, find whether the system is consistent or inconsistent.
I. 5x + 2y = 16; 7x – 4y = 2
15
II. 5x + 2y = 16; x + 2y = 24
2
Solution:
[i] Here a = 5, b = 2 and c = –16 and a1 = 7, b1 = – 4 and c1 = – 2

a1 b c
 = , 1 = – and 1 = 8
a2 b2 c2

a1 b
Since,  1 , the system of equations is consistent.
a2 b2

[ii] Here a1 = 5, b1 = 2 and c1 = – 16, a2 = 15/2, b2 = 3 and c2 = – 24.

a1 5 2 b 2  16 2
 = = , 1 = and =
a2 15/2 3 b2 3  24 3

4
 a1 b c 2
 = 1 = 1 =  the system of equations is inconsistent.
a2 b2 c2 3

Quadratic Expression:

An expression of the form ax2 + bx + c where a  0 is called the standard form of the quadratic expression in x. In
this, ax2 is called the quadratic term, bx is the linear term and c is called the constant term. In quadratic equation
maximum power is 2. An equation having power >2 is referred as ‘Polynomial’.

Example: 5x2 – 3x – 2, 3x2 – 5

Quadratic Equation:

Any equation that can be expressed in the form ax2 + bx + c = 0 where a, b and c are real numbers and a  0, is
called a quadratic equation in x.

Examples:

1. x2 – 3x – 4 = 0 This quadratic equation is in standard form.

2. a2 = 6a – 9 This quadratic equation is not in standard form.

3. (x – 7) (x + 6) = – 22 This is a quadratic equation not in standard form.

4. (x + 8) (x – 5) = 0 This quadratic equation can be solved by equating both the terms to zero.

Methods to find Roots of a Quadratic Equation:

1. Factorization Method: To solve a quadratic equation, the first step is to write it in the form: ax2 + bx + c = 0.
Then factorise the equation as you have revised in the previous section. If we have two numbers, A and B, and
we know that A × B = 0, then it must follow that either A = 0, or B = 0 (or both). When we multiply any number
by 0, we get 0.

Example: Solve the equation x2 – 9x + 20 = 0

Solution:

a) First, factorise the quadratic equation x2 – 9x + 20 = 0

b) Find two numbers which add up to 9 and multiply to give 20. These numbers are 4 and 5.

a. (x – 4) (x – 5) = 0

c) Now find the value x so that when these brackets are multiplied together the answer is 0.

a. This means either (x – 4) = 0 or (x – 5) = 0

d) So x = 4 or x = 5.

e) The Solution set is: {4, 5}

Example: 2x2 – 9x – 35 = 0

Solution: (2x + 5) (x – 7) = 0

Set each factor = 0 (2x + 5) = 0 or (x – 7) = 0

Solve each equation 2x + 5 = 0 or x–7=0

5
 2x = – 5 or x=7

2x 5
=
2 2

 5 
The solution set is:  , 7 
 2 

Example 4: Solve, x(x – 14) = 0

Solution: The equation is in factored form and equal to zero.

Factor x(x – 14) = 0

Set each factor = 0 x=0 or x – 14 = 0   x = 14

The solution set is: {0, 14}

2. Formula Method: Sometimes finding the factor of middle term is difficult. For these types of equations use
formula to determine roots. The roots of a quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 are

 b  b 2  4ac  b  b 2  4ac
= and  =
2a 2a

 A quadratic equation cannot have more than two roots or two solutions. If  and  are the
roots of the ax2 + bx + c = 0 then

b  Coefficient of x
o Sum of the roots ( + ) = =
a Coefficient of x2

c Constant Term
o Product of the roots () = =
a Coefficient of x2

o Equation from given roots  x2 – (sum of roots)x + product of roots = 0

Example: Find the equation whose roots are 3 and 4.

Solution: The quadratic equation is given by

x2 – (sum of the roots) x + (product of roots) = 0

 The required equation = x2 – (3 + 4) x + 3.4 = 0 = x2 – 7x + 12 = 0.

Example: If the sum of the roots of a quadratic equation is 3 and the sum of their squares is 29, find the equation.

Solution: Let  and  be the two roots.

 +  = 3 and 2 + 2 = 29

( + )2 = 2 + 2 + 2

(3)2 = 29 + 2

6
 2 = – 20   = –10

The quadratic equation is

x2 – (sum of roots) x + product of roots = 0

i.e., x2 – 3x – 10 = 0

Nature of the Roots:

 = b2 – 4ac (Discriminant) Nature of roots

If  > 0, Unequal Roots
1.  ≥ 0 Roots are Real
If  = 0, Equal Roots

2.  < 0 Complex Conjugate Numbers

3.  >0 if  is a perfect square Rational and unequal

4.  >0 if  is not a perfect square Irrational and unequal

Roots under particular cases:

For the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0

 If b = 0  roots are of equal magnitude but of opposite sign.

 If c = 0  one root is zero other is – b/a

 If b = c = 0  both roots are zero

 If a = c  roots are reciprocal to each other

Exercise
1. If ax = 5 + bx, then find the value of x in terms of a and b.

a + b 5 a - b 5
a] b] c] d] e] None of these
5 a + b 5 a - b

2. Solve following simultaneous linear equations:

1. 4x – 3y = 7 and 7x + 5y = 2

2 3 9 4 9 21
2. + = and + =
x y xy x y xy

3. Solve following
1. A number exceeds its one-fifth by 20. The number is

7
 2. The sum of three consecutive numbers is 87; which are the numbers?
3. The sum of two numbers is 16. The difference is 4. Which are the two numbers?
4. Half a number plus 5 is 11.What is the number?

4. The sum of the ages of two sisters 21 years hence is twice the sum of their ages today. If the difference in
their ages is 12 years, how old is the younger sisters?

a] 12 b] 15 c] 24 d] 30 e] None of these

5. A number consists of two digits, whose sum is 9. The number obtained by reversing the order of the digits of
the given of the given number, exceeds the given number by 27. The number is
a] 36 b] 45 c] 54 d] 27 e] None of these

6. The equation x3 + 8 = 0 will have ….?

a] All real roots b] All complex roots
c] 1 real root and 2 complex roots d] At least 1 real and 1 irrational root
e] None of these

7. Comment about consistency and uniqueness of solution of equations 2x + y = 5 and x + 2y = 4.

8. The ratio of the sum and the product of the roots of 7x2 – 12x + 18 = 0 is:
a] 7 : 12 b] 2 : 3 c] 3 : 2 d] 7 : 18 e] None of these

9. Find roots of following quadratic equations:

1. x2 + 7x + 12 = 0
2. 5x2 + 6x + 1 = 0
3. 9x2 – 1 = 0

10. Find value of k if x = 3 is a solution of the equation 3x2 + (k – 1) x + 9 = 0

11. Find discriminant, roots & Nature of roots of following quadratic equations:

1. 2x2 – 3x – 9 = 0
2. 16x2 – 1 = 0

12. The common root of the equations x2 – 7x + 10 = 0 and x2 –10x +16 = 0 is:

a] –2 b] 3 c] 5 d] 2 e] None of these

8
13. If one of the roots of a quadratic equation with real co-efficient is 7 + 6i, what is the co-efficient of ‘x’ in the
equation?

a] 14 b] 13 c] -14 d] - 13 e] None of these