MATHS WORKSHOPS

Simultaneous Equations and Inequalities

Business School
Outline

Recap of Algebra, Linear and Quadratic Functions

Simultaneous Equations

Inequalities

Applications in Business

Summary and Conclusion

Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Outline

Recap of Algebra, Linear and Quadratic Functions

Simultaneous Equations

Inequalities

Applications in Business

Summary and Conclusion

Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Variables, Parameters & Solving Equations

Definition (Parameters)
A parameter is some fixed value, also known as a “constant” or
“coefficient.” More

Definition (Variables)
A variable is an unknown value that may change, or vary,
depending on the parameter values. More

Definition (Solving an equation)

We can solve an equation by using mathematical operations to
rearrange the equation such that the variable is on one side of the
equation and the parameters are all on the other side. Example:
c−b
x= . More
a
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Linear functions
Definition (Linear function)
An equation with two variables of the form y = ax + b is called a
linear function. More

Definition (Independent and dependent variables)

The variable on the right hand side of the equation, x, is called the
independent variable and the variable on the left hand side of the
equation, y, is called the dependent variable.
• The dependent variable may also be written as y = f (x) or
y = g(x).
• This notation emphasises that y is a function of x, in other
words y depends on x. More
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Outline

Recap of Algebra, Linear and Quadratic Functions

Simultaneous Equations

Inequalities

Applications in Business

Summary and Conclusion

Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Simultaneous Equations
Definition (Simultaneous Equations)
If two equations are both “true” at the same time, they are called
simultaneous equations. More

Example
A system of two simultaneous equations:

y = 4x
2x + y = 6

Definition (Solution)
To solve a system of simultaneous equations we need to find values
of the variables that satisfy all equations in the system.
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Simultaneous Equations
Definition (Solution)
To solve a system of simultaneous equations we need to find values
of the variables that satisfy all equations in the system.

Graphically this is the point where the two lines cross:

y y = 4x
6

2
2x + y = 6
x
-1 1 2 3 4
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

How to solve systems of equations?

The general approach consists of 3 steps:
1. Manipulate the equations to find an expression in terms of
one variable only.
2. Solve the equation for that one variable
3. Use that solution in one of the original equations to find the
other solution.
There are two main ways to manipluate the equations in step 1:
Definition (Substitution Method)
Substitute one equation into another. More

Definition (Elimination Method)

Add or subtract a multiple of one equation from the other. More
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Substitution Method
We can use the 3 step approach to solve the following system:
y = 4x (1)
2x + y = 6 (2)

1. Substitute Equation (1) into Equation (2):

2x + 4x = 6 (substituting y = 4x)
6x = 6
2. Solve this equation for x:
1 1
6x × = 6 × (divide both sides by 6)
6 6
x=1
3. Use this solution, x = 1, in Equation (1) to find y:
y = 4x = 4 × 1 = 4
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Elimination Method
3 step approach using the elimination method:

y = 4x (1)
2x + y = 6 (2)

1. Eliminate y in Equation (2) by subtracting (1) from (2):

2x + y − y = 6 − 4x
2x = 6 − 4x (no longer any y’s)
6x = 6

2. Using exactly the same approach as in the substitution

method we solve to find x = 1.
3. As before, we substitute x = 1 back into Equation (1) to find
y = 4.
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Simultaneous Equations Your Turn. . .

Solve the following system of equations
2x + y = 8 (3)
x+y =6 (4)

1.

2.
3.
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Simultaneous Equations Your Turn. . .

Solve the following system of equations
2x + y = 8 (3)
x+y =6 (4)

1. The elimination method and subtract (4) from (3):

OR the substitution method by rearranging (4) to get

y = 6 − x and substituting this into (3):

2.
3.
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Simultaneous Equations Your Turn. . .

Solve the following system of equations
2x + y = 8 (3)
x+y =6 (4)

1. The elimination method and subtract (4) from (3):

2x + y − (x + y) = 8 − 6
x=2
OR the substitution method by rearranging (4) to get
y = 6 − x and substituting this into (3):
2x + (6 − x) = 8
x=2

2.
3.
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Simultaneous Equations Your Turn. . .

Solve the following system of equations
2x + y = 8 (3)
x+y =6 (4)

1. The elimination method and subtract (4) from (3):

2x + y − (x + y) = 8 − 6
x=2
OR the substitution method by rearranging (4) to get
y = 6 − x and substituting this into (3):
2x + (6 − x) = 8
x=2

2. No need to solve for x as we can see directly that x = 2.

3. Use x = 2 in (4) to find y = 6 − 2 = 4.
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Graphical Example
• In the Algebra Workshop we showed how to graph linear
functions.
• The solution of a system of equations can be graphically
represented as the point of intersection of the two equations.

Definition (Intersection)
The intersection is the point at which two lines cross.

Definition (Cartesian coordinates)

It is sometimes useful to use the cartesian coordinate system to
refer to points in the 2-dimensional plane. Instead of writing x = 2
and y = 4 we instead write as (x, y) = (2, 4) or just refer to the
point (2, 4). More
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Graphing simultaneous equations

y = 4x
2x + y = 6
• y = 4x is simple to plot, it goes through the origin
(x, y) = (0, 0) and has slope equal to 4.

y y = 4x
6

2
x
-1 1 2 3 4
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Graphing simultaneous equations

y = 4x
2x + y = 6
• y = 4x is simple to plot, it goes through the origin
(x, y) = (0, 0) and has slope equal to 4.
• 2x + y = 6 is a bit tricky. When x = 0 the intercept is y = 6
and when y = 0 =⇒ 2x = 6 or x = 3, so the line passes
through the two points (0,6) and (3,0):
y y = 4x
6

2
x
-1 1 2 3 4
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Graphing simultaneous equations

y = 4x
2x + y = 6
• y = 4x is simple to plot, it goes through the origin
(x, y) = (0, 0) and has slope equal to 4.
• 2x + y = 6 is a bit tricky. When x = 0 the intercept is y = 6
and when y = 0 =⇒ 2x = 6 or x = 3, so the line passes
through the two points (0,6) and (3,0):
y y = 4x
6

2
y = −2x + 6
x
-1 1 2 3 4
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Graphing simultaneous equations

y = 4x
2x + y = 6
• y = 4x is simple to plot, it goes through the origin
(x, y) = (0, 0) and has slope equal to 4.
• 2x + y = 6 is a bit tricky. When x = 0 the intercept is y = 6
and when y = 0 =⇒ 2x = 6 or x = 3, so the line passes
through the two points (0,6) and (3,0):
y y = 4x
6

4 Solution: (x, y) = (1, 4)

2
y = −2x + 6
x
-1 1 2 3 4
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Now it’s your turn. . .

Find the solution to this system of equations graphically

2x + y = 8 (3)
x+y =6 (4)

y
8

2
x
-1 1 2 3 4 5 6
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Now it’s your turn. . .

Find the solution to this system of equations graphically
2x + y = 8 (3)
x+y =6 (4)
1. Consider Equation (3). When x = 0, the intercept is y = 8.
When y = 0, 2x = 8 =⇒ x = 4.
y
8
y = −2x + 8
6

2
x
-1 1 2 3 4 5 6
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Now it’s your turn. . .

Find the solution to this system of equations graphically
2x + y = 8 (3)
x+y =6 (4)
2. Consider Equation (4). When x = 0, the intercept is y = 6.
When y = 0, x = 6.
y
8
y = −2x + 8
6

2 y =6−x
x
-1 1 2 3 4 5 6
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Now it’s your turn. . .

Find the solution to this system of equations graphically
2x + y = 8 (3)
x+y =6 (4)
3. The solution is where the lines intersect. In this case, x = 2
and y = 4 just like we found algebraically.
y
8
y = −2x + 8
6
(x, y) = (2, 4)
4

2 y =6−x
x
-1 1 2 3 4 5 6
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

How many solutions?

A system of linear equations can have:
• Exactly one solution (intersecting lines)
• No solutions (parallel lines)
• Infinitely many solutions (same line)

Example (Exactly one solution)

y

y =1−x 1
y = −1 + x
x
-1 1
-1

More
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

How many solutions?

A system of linear equations can have:
• Exactly one solution (intersecting lines)
• No solutions (parallel lines)
• Infinitely many solutions (same line)

Example (No Solutions)

y

y =x+1 1
y =x−1
x
-1 1
-1

More
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

How many solutions?

A system of linear equations can have:
• Exactly one solution (intersecting lines)
• No solutions (parallel lines)
• Infinitely many solutions (same line)

Example (Infinitely many solutions)

y

y =1−x 1
2y = 2 − 2x
x
-1 1
-1

More
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Simultaneous equations with quadratics

Example (Simultaneous Quadratic Equations)

y = x2 + 3x (1)
2
y = x − 3x + 0.5 (2)

Graphically the solution is the point where the two functions

intersect:
y x2 + 3x x2 − 3x + 0.5
2
1
x
-3 -2 -1 1 2 3
-1
-2
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Simultaneous equations with quadratics

Example (Simultaneous Quadratic Equations)

y = x2 + 3x (1)
2
y = x − 3x + 0.5 (2)

Algebraically, we can set the two equations equal to one another,

(1) = (2), and solve for x:

x2 + 3x = x2 − 3x + 0.5
x2 − x2 + 3x + 3x = 0.5
6x = 0.5
1 1 1
x= × = .
2 6 12
1 2 1 37
From (1), y = x2 + 3x =


12 +3× 12 = 144 = 0.2569.
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Outline

Recap of Algebra, Linear and Quadratic Functions

Simultaneous Equations

Inequalities

Applications in Business

Summary and Conclusion

Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Inequalities
Definition (Inequality)
In mathematics, an inequality is a statement about the relative size
of two objects, or about whether they are the same or not.

Example (Strict Inequalities)

• a < b means that a is less than b
• a > b means that a is greater than b
• a 6= b means that a is not equal to b

Example (Not Strict Inequalities)

• a ≤ b means that a is less than or equal to b
• a ≥ b means that a is greater than or equal to b

More
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Inequalities
Example

7x
2− > −x + 3
5
10 − 7x > −5x + 15 (multiply both sides by 5)
−7x > −5x + 15 − 10 (subtract 10 from both sides)
−7x + 5x > 5 (add 5x to both sides)
−2x > 5
5
x<− (divide both sides by −2)
2

• Look what happened in the last step we divided through by a

negative number – we flipped the inequality!!!
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Flipping the inequality

The hardest thing about inequalities is remembering to flip the
inequality when you multiply through or divide through by −1.
• Consider: −2 < 5. That statement is true (right?)
• If we multiply both sides by −1 we would get 2 < −5.
• This is is clearly wrong (right?) 2 6< −5
• In fact, 2 > −5.
Rule
If you multiply or divide an inequality by a negative number you
must reverse the sign of the inequality! More

Rule
If a and b are both positive or both negative and you take the
reciprocal of both sides:
1 1
a > b =⇒ <
a b
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

But WHY?
Consider some a > b:

a > b =⇒ a − b > 0 (subtracting b from both sides)

=⇒ −b > −a (subtracting a from both sides)
=⇒ −a < −b (rewriting the inequality in reverse)

Again consider some a > b, where both a and b are positive

numbers:
b
a > b =⇒ 1 > (dividing both sides by a)
a
1 1
=⇒ > (dividing both sides by b)
b a
1 1
=⇒ < (rewriting the inequality in reverse)
a b
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Using Inequalities
Example (Your Turn)
One of the colleges on campus is organising informal with all
drinks included in the ticket price. The DJ costs $300 for the night
and the bouncers charge $500 for the night. The drink expenses
for each guest is $20. How many people need to attend before the
college starts making money if the tickets are $30 per person?
• In order to make money we need our income to be bigger than
the expenses:
Income > Expenses
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Using Inequalities
Example (Your Turn)
One of the colleges on campus is organising informal with all
drinks included in the ticket price. The DJ costs $300 for the night
and the bouncers charge $500 for the night. The drink expenses
for each guest is $20. How many people need to attend before the
college starts making money if the tickets are $30 per person?
• In order to make money we need our income to be bigger than
the expenses:
Income > Expenses
30x > 20x + 300 + 500
10x > 800
x > 80
• So we need more than 80 people to attend!
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Quadratic Inequalities
Example (Your Turn)
Solve x2 − 3x − 4 < 0 and graph the solution set on a number line.

1. Factorise:
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Quadratic Inequalities
Example (Your Turn)
Solve x2 − 3x − 4 < 0 and graph the solution set on a number line.

1. Factorise: (x − 4)(x + 1) < 0

2. Graph:
y

x
-2 -1 1 2 3 4
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Quadratic Inequalities
Example (Your Turn)
Solve x2 − 3x − 4 < 0 and graph the solution set on a number line.

1. Factorise: (x − 4)(x + 1) < 0

2. Graph:
y

x
-2 -1 1 2 3 4

3. Determine where the function is negative and where it is

positive
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Quadratic Inequalities
Example (Your Turn)
Solve x2 − 3x − 4 < 0 and graph the solution set on a number line.

1. Factorise: (x − 4)(x + 1) < 0

2. Graph:
y

x
-2 -1 1 2 3 4

3. Determine where the function is negative and where it is

positive so the solution is −1 < x < 4.
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Outline

Recap of Algebra, Linear and Quadratic Functions

Simultaneous Equations

Inequalities

Applications in Business

Summary and Conclusion

Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Equilibrium Demand and Supply

Equilibrium
The price, P , of a good is related to the quantity, Q, of it
demanded and supplied in the market.
• A demand curve shows that as price decreases, the quantity
demanded of the product increases. Example:

P = −2Q + 50

• A supply curve shows that as price increases, quantity of the

product supplied increases. Example:

P = 4Q + 5

• The point at which supply equals demand is the equilibrium

price and quantity. More
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Equilibrium Demand and Supply

Demand curve:
P = −2Q + 50 (3)
Supply curve:
P = 4Q + 5 (4)

Example (Your Turn. . . )

1. Graph the curves and identify the point of intersection (Hint:

put price on the y-axis and demand on the x-axis)
2. Find the equilibrium price and quantity (i.e. solve (3) and (4)
simultaneously).
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Equilibrium Demand and Supply

1. Graph the curves and identify the point of intersection
P
50

5
25 Q
2. To find the equilibrium point, we equate the demand curve
and the supply curve. I.e. set (3) = (4):

To find P we use Q = in either (3) or (4):

.
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Equilibrium Demand and Supply

1. Graph the curves and identify the point of intersection
P P = 4Q + 5
50

5 P = −2Q + 50
25 Q
2. To find the equilibrium point, we equate the demand curve
and the supply curve. I.e. set (3) = (4):

To find P we use Q = in either (3) or (4):

.
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Equilibrium Demand and Supply

1. Graph the curves and identify the point of intersection
P P = 4Q + 5
50
35 Equilibrium: (Q, P ) = (7.5, 35)

5 P = −2Q + 50
7.5 25 Q
2. To find the equilibrium point, we equate the demand curve
and the supply curve. I.e. set (3) = (4):
− 2Q + 50 = 4Q + 5 =⇒ Q = 7.5
To find P we use Q = 7.5 in either (3) or (4):
P = 4Q + 5 = 4 × 7.5 + 5 = 35.
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Applications in Business
Simultaneous Equations
• Systems of simultaneous equations are solved more generally
using matrices. More

• Matrices are fundamental to finding least squares regression

estimates in Statistics. More

• Break-even analysis in Accounting More

Inequalities
• Constrained optimisation problems in Management Decision
Science More

• Hypothesis testing and constructing confidence intervals in

Econometrics More
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Outline

Recap of Algebra, Linear and Quadratic Functions

Simultaneous Equations

Inequalities

Applications in Business

Summary and Conclusion

Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Summary
• parameters, variables and solving equations
• simultaneous equations
• graphing simultaneous equation
• algebraic solution
• graphical solution
• consistent system of equations vs. inconsistent system
• solving inequalities
• flipping the inequality
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Coming up. . .
Week 6: Differentiation
• Theory and rules of Differentiation
• Differentiating various functions and application of
Differentiation
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Additional Resources
• Test your knowledge at the University of Sydney Business
School MathQuiz:
http://quiz.econ.usyd.edu.au/mathquiz
• Additional resources on the Maths in Business website
sydney.edu.au/business/learning/students/maths
• The University of Sydney Mathematics Learning Centre has a
number of additional resources:
• Basic concepts in probability notes More

• Sigma notation notes More

• Permutations and combinations notes More

• Further workshops by the Maths Learning Centre More

• There’s also tonnes of theory, worked questions and additional

practice questions online. All you need to do is Google the
topic you need more practice with! More
Revision Simultaneous Equations Inequalities Application Conclusion

Acknowledgements
• Presenters and content contributors: Garth Tarr, Edward
Deng, Donna Zhou, Justin Wang, Fayzan Bahktiar, Priyanka
Goonetilleke.
• Mathematics Workshops Project Manager Jessica Morr from
the Learning and Teaching in Business.
• Valuable comments, feedback and support from Erick Li and
Michele Scoufis.
• Questions, comments, feedback? Let us know at
[email protected]