Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Pre-Calculus
SY 2020 – 2021

Unit I: Analytic Geometry

Lesson 5: Systems of Non-Linear Equations

Introduction

Computer software often uses a coordinate system to keep

track of the locations of objects on the screen. Suppose an
enemy space station is located at the center of the screen,
which is the origin in a coordinate system. The space
station is surrounded by a circular force field of radius 50
units. If the spaceship you control is flying toward the
center along the line with equation y = 3x , the point where
the ship hits the force field is a solution of system of
equations.

Learning Objectives

After studying and completing this module with 80% to 100% accuracy, you are expected to:

a) Illustrate systems of nonlinear equations;

b) Determine the solutions of systems of nonlinear equations using techniques such as
substitution, elimination and graphing; and
c) Solve situational problems involving systems of nonlinear equations.

Review

Recall the method we used to solve systems of linear equations. There were three methods used:
substitution, elimination and graphical.

Practice Problem: Use the substitution method to solve the system and sketch the graphs in on cartesian
plane showing the point of intersection.

4x + y = 6
5x + 3 y = 4

Solution: Isolate the variable in the first equation, then substitute it into the second equation.

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Pre-Calculus
SY 2020 – 2021

4x + y = 6
y = 6 − 4x

5x + 3 y = 4 4x + y = 6
5 x + 3(6 − 4 x) = 4
5 x + 18 − 12 x = 4
−7 x = 4 − 18 5x + 3 y = 4
−7 x = −14
x=2
y = 6 − 4x
y = 6 − 4(2)
y = −2

Practice Problem: Use the elimination method to solve the system and sketch the graphs in one cartesian
plane showing the point of intersection.

2x + 7 = 3y
4 x + 7 y = 12

Solution: We eliminate first the variable x. Rewrite the first equation wherein only the constant term is
on the right-hand side of the equation, then multiply it by -2, and the add the resulting equation of the
second equation.

2 x − 3 y = −7
(−2)(2 x − 3 y ) = (−7)(−2)
−4 x + 6 y = 14
2 x − 3 y = −7
−4 x + 6 y = 14
4 x + 7 y = 12

13 y = 26
y=2
4 x + 7 y = 12
2 x − 3 y = −7
2 x − 3(2) = −7
2 x = −7 + 6
1
x=−
2

After recalling the techniques used in solving systems of linear equation, we extend these methods to
solving a system of equations to systems in which the equations are not necessarily linear. In this lesson,
the equations are restricted to linear and quadratic types, although it is possible to adapt the methodology
so systems with other types of equations. We focus on quadratic equations for two reasons: to include a
graphical representation of the solution and to ensure that either a solution is obtained, or it is determined
that there is no solution. The latter is possible because of the quadratic formula.

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Pre-Calculus
SY 2020 – 2021

Solving Systems of Equations using Substitution

We begin our extension with a system involving one linear equation and one quadratic. In this case, it is
always possible to use substitution by solving the linear equation for one of the variables.

Practice Problem #1

Solve the system and graph the equations.

x + 5 y = 27
x 2 + y 2 − 8 x − 4 y = −7

Solution:

One equation can be solved easily for one variable and substituted in the other equation. We will then
solve this system by substitution. The first equation is easy to solve for x: x = 27 − 5 y . Substitute this in
the second equation.

x 2 + y 2 − 8 x − 4 y = −7
(27 − 5 y ) 2 + y 2 − 8(27 − 5 y ) − 4 y = −7
25 y 2 − 270 y + 729 + y 2 − 216 + 40 y − 4 y + 7 = 0
26 y 2 − 234 y + 520 = 0
y 2 − 9 y + 20 = 0
( y − 4)( y − 5) = 0
y1 = 4
y2 = 5

Solve for x:

x1 + 5 y1 = 27 x2 + 5 y2 = 27
x1 + 5(4) = 27 x2 + 5(5) = 27
x1 = 7 x2 = 2
x + 5 y = 27
The graph of x + 5 y = 27 is a straight line

and the second, x 2 + y 2 − 8x − 4 y = −7 , is

a circle. They therefore interest at two x 2 + y 2 − 8x − 4 y = −7
points (7,4) and (2,5), as shown in the
figure on the right.

Practice Problem #2

Solve the following system and sketch the graphs in one cartesian plane.

x− y+2=0
y −1 = x2

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Pre-Calculus
SY 2020 – 2021

Solution:

We solve the y in terms of x in the first equation and substitute this expression in the second equation.

x− y+2=0
y = x+2

y −1 = x2 1+ 5 1+ 5 5+ 5
x1 = y1 = +2=
( x + 2) − 1 = x 2 2 2 2
1+ 5 1− 5 5− 5
x2 − x − 1 = 0 x2 = y2 = +2=
2 2 2
1 5
x=
2

The coordinates where the two system will

y −1 = x2
intersect are

 1+ 5 5 + 5   1− 5 5 − 5 
 ,  and  , .
 2 2   2 2 

The first equation represents a line with x-

intercept of -2 and y-intercept of 2. While the
second equation represents a parabola with
vertex at (0,1) and which opens upward.

x− y+2=0

Solving Systems of Equations Using Elimination

Elimination method is also useful in systems of nonlinear equations. Sometimes, some systems need both
techniques (substitution and elimination) to solve them.

Practice Problem #3

Solve the system and graph the equations.

x 2 − 6 x + y 2 + 2 y = 15
x2 − 6x − 2 y = 3

Solution:

Observe that by subtracting the second from the first equation, we can eliminate all terms involving x.

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Pre-Calculus
SY 2020 – 2021

x 2 − 6 x + y 2 + 2 y = 15
x2 − 6x − 2 y = −3

y 2 + 4 y = 12

Thus, 0 = y 2 + 4 y −120 = ( y + 6)( y − 2) so y1 = −6 and y2 = 2 . Substitute each value of the second

equation.

If y = −6 , then x2 − 6 x − 2 y = 3 If y = 2 then x2 − 6 x − 2 y = 3

x 2 − 6 x − 2(−6) = 3 x 2 − 6 x − 2(2) = 3
x 2 − 6 x + 12 = 3 x2 − 6x − 4 = 3
x2 − 6x + 9 = 0 x2 − 6x − 7 = 0
( x − 3) 2 = 0 ( x − 7)( x + 1) = 0
x1 = 3 x2 = 7
x3 = −1

Therefore, we have
(3, −6), (7, 2) and (−1, 2) . The two

equations can be written as

( x − 3)2 + ( y + 1)2 = 25 and

( x − 3)2 = 2( y + 6) . These graphs

are circle and a parabola which
intersect at three points. We could
also have solved this system by
substitution: solve for y in the
second equation and use this on the
first equation. However, more
algebra would be involved than the
one applied in the solution above.

Practice Problem #4

Solve the following system and sketch the graph.

y 2 − 4 x − 6 y = 11
4(3 − x) = ( y − 3)
2

Solution:

We expand the second equation and eliminate the variable x by adding the equations.

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Pre-Calculus
SY 2020 – 2021

4(3 − x) = ( y − 3) 2
12 − 4 x = y 2 − 6 y + 9
y2 + 4x − 6 y = 3

y 2 − 4 x − 6 y = 11
y2 − 6 − 7 = 0
y2 + 4x − 6 y = 3 y1 = 7 and y2 = −1
( y − 7)( y + 1) = 0
2 y 2 − 12 = 14

Solve for the value of x by substituting

the y in the equation.
y 2 − 4 x − 6 y = 11
y 2 − 4 x − 6 y = 11
y 2 − 6 y − 11
x=
4

7 2 − 6(7) − 11
x1 =
4
4(3 − x) = ( y − 3) 2
x1 = −1

(−1) 2 − 6(−1) − 11
x2 =
4
x2 = −1

If the graphs of a system of equations are two conic sections, the system may have zero, one, two, three,
or four solutions. Some of the possible situations are shown below.

Practice Problem #5

Use the elimination method to solve the system.

y 2 = 13 − x 2
x 2 + 4 y 2 = 25

Solution:
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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Pre-Calculus
SY 2020 – 2021

− x 2 − y 2 = −13 Rewrite the first original equation.

x + 4 y 2 = 25
2
Second original equation.
3 y 2 = 12 Add
y =4
2

y = 2

Substitute 2 and -2 for y in either of the

original equations and solve for x. y 2 = 13 − x 2

x 2 + 4 y 2 = 25 x 2 + 4 y 2 = 25
x 2 + 4( 2) = 25 x 2 + 4( −2) = 25
x2 = 9 x2 = 9
x = 3 x = 3

The solutions are

(3, 2), (−3, 2), (−3, −2), and (3, −2) x 2 + 4 y 2 = 25

Key Concepts

The solution for systems of non-linear equations can be obtained by performing the following
methods.

➢ Elimination Method
➢ Substitution Method
➢ Graphical Method

Learning Activity
YouTube Links

Here are some YouTube videos you can watch to help you to have a better understanding about
the lesson.

➢ ThinkwellVids (Solving Nonlinear Systems with Substitution) 3:45 mins

https://youtu.be/hrhQCsCR6_U
➢ Number Sense (Solving Systems of Nonlinear Equations) 22:17 mins
https://youtu.be/TaeOf9pcNYg

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Pre-Calculus
SY 2020 – 2021

Think, Pair & Share

The corporate logo for an automobile manufacturer is shown.

Write a system of three equations to model this logo.

Enrichment Activity

I. Find the exact solution(s) of each system of equations.

y 2 + x2 = 9
1.
y =7−x
y = x+3
2.
y = 2 x2

y 2 + x 2 = 25
3.
y 2 + 9 x 2 = 25

x2 y2
− =1
4. 36 4
x= y

2 x 2 + 8 y 2 + 8 x − 48 y + 30 = 0
5.
2 x 2 − 8 y 2 = 48 y + 90

References

➢ ThinkwellVids (2014, Mar 4) Solving Nonlinear Systems with Substitution

https://youtu.be/hrhQCsCR6_U
➢ Number Sense 101 (2019, Jul 19) Solving Systems of Nonlinear Equations – Number Sense 101
https://youtu.be/TaeOf9pcNYg

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