3.

2: Solving Linear Systems with Two Variables

Learning Objectives
Solve linear systems using the substitution method.
Solve linear systems using the elimination method.
Identify the strengths and weaknesses of each method.

The Substitution Method

11
In this section, we review a completely algebraic technique for solving systems, the substitution method . The idea
is to solve one equation for one of the variables and substitute the result into the other equation. After performing
this substitution step, we are left with a single equation with one variable, which can be solved using algebra.

Example 3.2.1:

{2x +y = −3
Solve by substitution: .
3x −2y = −8
Solution
y
Solve for either variable in either equation. If you choose the first equation, you can isolate in
one step. −2x −3 y
Substitute the expression for the variable in the other equation.
 3/15/2021 CC-BY-NC-SA https://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/6241
3.2.1

Figure 3.2.1

This leaves us with an equivalent equation with one variable, which can be solved using the techniques learned
up to this point. Solve for the remaining variable.

12
x = −2
Back substitute to find the other coordinate. Substitute into either of the original equations or their equivalents.
Typically, we use the equivalent equation that we found when isolating a variable in the first step.

(−2, 1)
Remember to present the solution as an ordered pair: . Verify that these coordinates solve both equations of the
original system:
Check
:
(−2, 1)
Equation 1
Equation 2
Table
3.2.1
The graph of this linear system follows:

Figure 3.2.2

The substitution method for solving systems is a completely algebraic method. Thus graphing the lines is not

required. Answer:

(−2, 1)

Example 3.2.2:

{3x −5y = 9
Solve by substitution: .
4x +2y = −1
Solution
x
It does not matter which variable we choose to isolate first. In this case, begin by solving for in the first
equation. y
 Next, substitute into the second equation and solve for .
Back substitute into the equation used in the substitution step:

3/15/2021 CC-BY-NC-SA https://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/6241

3.2.2

Answer:
1 3
(,−)
2 2

Exercise 3.2.1

{5x −4y = 3
Solve by substitution: .
x +2y = 2

Answer
(1, )12
www.youtube.com/v/GzPhthhKeDA

As we know, not all linear systems have only one ordered pair solution. Next, we explore what happens when using
the substitution method to solve a dependent system.

Example 3.2.3:

{−5x +y = −1
Solve by substitution: .
10x −2y = 2
Solution
1
Since the first equation has a term with coefficient , we choose to solve for that first.
y
Next, substitute this expression in for in the second equation.
This process led to a true statement; hence the equation is an identity and any real number is a solution. This
indicates that (x, mx +b) (x, 5x −1) x
the system is dependent. The simultaneous solutions take the form , or in this case, , where is any real number.
Answer:
(x, 5x −1)

To have a better understanding of the previous example, rewrite both equations in slope-intercept form and graph
them on the same set of axes.

Figure 3.2.3
We can see that both equations represent the same line, and thus the system is dependent. Now explore what
happens when solving an inconsistent system using the substitution method.

Example 3.2.4:

{−7x +3y = 3
Solve by substitution: .
14x −6y = −16
Solution
y
 Solve for in the first equation.
Substitute into the second equation and solve.
x
Solving leads to a false statement. This indicates that the equation is a contradiction. There is no solution for
and hence no solution to the system.
Answer:
∅

3/15/2021 CC-BY-NC-SA https://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/6241

3.2.3

A false statement indicates that the system is inconsistent, or in geometric

terms, that the lines are parallel and do not intersect. To illustrate this, determine the slope-intercept form of each line
and graph them on the same set of axes.

Figure y
3.2.4
In slope-intercept form, it is easy to see that the two lines have the same slope but different -intercepts.

Exercise 3.2.2

{2x −5y = 3
Solve by substitution: .
4x −10y = 6

Answer
2 3
(x, x − )
5 5
www.youtube.com/v/JKX9M-L9Wow

The Elimination Method

In this section, the goal is to review another completely algebraic method for solving a system of linear equations
called the 13 14 15
elimination method or addition method . This method depends on the addition property of equations : given
algebraic expressions A, B, C, and D we have
If A = B and C = D, then A+C = B+D
y
We can add the equations together to eliminate the variable .
This leaves us with a linear equation with one variable that can be easily solved:
2x x =6
=3 x
At this point, we have the -coordinate of the simultaneous solution, so all that is left to do is back substitute to find
the y
corresponding -value.
x +y = 5
3+y = 5
y=2
(3, 2)
The solution to the system is . Of course, the variable is not always so easily eliminated. Typically, we have to find
an equivalent system by applying the multiplication property of equality to one or both of the equations as a means
to line up one x y
of the variables to eliminate. The goal is to arrange that either the terms or the terms are opposites, so that when the
equations are added, the terms eliminate.

3/15/2021 CC-BY-NC-SA https://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/6241

3.2.4

Example 3.2.5:
{5x −3y = −1
Solve by elimination: .
3x +2y = 7
Solution
y
We choose to eliminate the terms with variable because the coefficients have different signs. To do this, we first
LCM(3, 2) 6
determine the least common multiple of the coefficients; in this case, the is . Therefore, multiply both sides −6 6
of both equations by the appropriate values to obtain coefficients of and . This results in the following equivalent
system:
yx
The terms involving are now lined up to eliminate. Add the equations together and solve for .
Back substitute.
=7 (1, 2)
=7 3x +2y 3(1)+2y 3 +2y
=7 2y
=4 y
=2
Therefore the simultaneous solution is . The check follows.

Check: (1,2)Table 3.2.2

Answer: (1, 2) 7=7✓

Equation 1: Equation 2:

3x + 2y = 7
3(1)+ 2(2) = 7
3+4=7
ax +by = c
Sometimes linear systems are not given in standard form . When this is the case, it is best to rearrange the
 equations before beginning the steps to solve by elimination. Also, we can eliminate either variable. The goal is to
obtain a solution for one of the variables and then back substitute to find a solution for the other.

Example 3.2.6:
12x +5y
{ 3x= 11
Solve by elimination: .
= 4y +1
Solution:
First, rewrite the second equation in standard form.
This results in an equivalent system in standard form, where like terms are aligned in columns.
x −4
We can eliminate the term with variable if we multiply the second equation by .

Figure Back substitute.

3.2.5
Next, we add the equations together,

3/15/2021 CC-BY-NC-SA https://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/6241

3.2.5

3x = 4y +1
1
3x = 4 ( )+1
3
4
3x = +1
3
3x = 73
x = ⋅7313
x =79
Answer:
7 1
(,)
9 3

Exercise 3.2.3

{2x +5y = 5
Solve by elimination: .
3x +2y = −9

Answer
(−5, 3)
www.youtube.com/v/FX90hfggjbI

At this point, we explore what happens when solving dependent and inconsistent systems using the elimination method.

Example 3.2.7:

{3x −y = 7
Solve by elimination: .
 6x −2y = 14
Solution
x −2
To eliminate the variable , we could multiply the first equation by .

Figure yx
Now adding the equations we have
3.2.6
A true statement indicates that this is a dependent system. The lines coincide, and we need in terms of to
present the (x, mx +b) y
solution set in the form . Choose one of the original equations and solve for . Since the equations are
equivalent, it does not matter which one we choose.
Answer:
(x, 3x −7)

Exercise 3.2.4

{3x +15y = −15

Solve by elimination: .
2x +10y = 30

Answer
No solution, ∅
www.youtube.com/v/E4B0lMLEliY

3/15/2021 CC-BY-NC-SA https://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/6241

3.2.6

Given a linear system where the equations have fractional coefficients, it

is usually best to clear the fractions before beginning the elimination method.

Example 3.2.8:
1 1 4
{−1 0 x + 2y = 5
Solve: .
1
x + y = − 713221
Solution
Recall that we can clear fractions by multiplying both sides of an equation by the least common multiple of the
denominators (LCD). Take care to distribute and then simplify.
Table 3.2.3
Equation 1 Equation 2

This results in an equivalent system where the equations have integer coefficients,
Solve using the elimination method.

Figure Answer:
Back substitute. (−3, 1)
3.2.7
 We can use a similar technique to clear decimals before

solving. Exercise 3.2.5

1 2

{x − y = 3
3 3
Solve using elimination: .

Answer (5, −2) 1 83

13 x−y=2

www.youtube.com/v/ujlpeP7nakE

Summary of the Methods for Solving Linear Systems

We have reviewed three methods for solving linear systems of two equations with two variables. Each method is
valid and can produce the same correct result. In this section, we summarize the strengths and weaknesses of each
method.
The graphing method is useful for understanding what a system of equations is and what the solutions must look
like. When the equations of a system are graphed on the same set of axes, we can see that the solution is the point
where the graphs intersect. The graphing is made easy when the equations are in slope-intercept form. For
example,

Figure (−1, 10)

3.2.8
The simultaneous solution corresponds to the point of intersection. One drawback of this method is that it is very
inaccurate. When the coordinates of the solution are not integers, the method is practically unusable. If we have a
choice, we typically avoid this method in favor of the more accurate algebraic techniques.

3/15/2021 CC-BY-NC-SA https://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/6241

3.2.7

The substitution method, on the other hand, is a completely algebraic

method. It requires you to solve for one of the variables and substitute the result into the other equation. The resulting
equation has one variable for which you can solve. This method 1
is particularly useful when there is a variable within the system with coefficient of . For example,
10x +y = 20
{ Choose the substitution method.
7x +5y = 14
y
In this case, it is easy to solve for in the first equation and then substitute the result into the other equation. One
drawback of this method is that it often leads to equivalent equations with fractional coefficients, which are tedious to
work with. If there is 1
not a coefficient of , then it usually is best to choose the elimination method.
The elimination method is a completely algebraic method which makes use of the addition property of equations. We
multiply one or both of the equations to obtain equivalent equations where one of the variables is eliminated if we
add them together. For example,
x5
To eliminate the terms involving , we would multiply both sides of the first equation by and both sides of the second
−2 x
equation by . This results in an equivalent system where the variable is eliminated when we add the equations
together. Of course, there are other combinations of numbers that achieve the same result. We could even choose
to eliminate the y
 variable . No matter which variable is eliminated first, the solution will be the same. Note that the substitution
method, in this case, would require tedious calculations with fractional coefficients. One weakness of the elimination
method, as we will see later in our study of algebra, is that it does not always work for nonlinear systems.

Key Takeaways
The substitution method requires that we solve for one of the variables and then substitute the result into the
other equation. After performing the substitution step, the resulting equation has one variable and can be solved
using the techniques learned up to this point.
The elimination method is another completely algebraic method for solving a system of equations. Multiply one or
both of the equations in a system by certain numbers to obtain an equivalent system where at least one variable
in both equations have opposite coefficients. Adding these equivalent equations together eliminates that variable,
and the resulting equation has one variable for which you can solve.
It is a good practice to first rewrite the equations in standard form before beginning the elimination
method. (x,
y)
Solutions to systems of two linear equations with two variables, if they exist, are ordered pairs .
If the process of solving a system of equations leads to a false statement, then the system is inconsistent and
there is no solution, .
Ø
If the process of solving a system of equations leads to an identity, then the system is dependent and there are
infinitely (x, mx +b)
many solutions that can be expressed using the form .

Exercise 3.2.6
Solve by substitution.

1. 2. 3. x +3y = −8

{y = x
{y = −5x +1 4x −3y = −41 {x = 2y −3 2x +3y = 10

4. 13
1 {y = x + 2

5. 6. 7.
{y = 4x +1 −4x +y = 2 {y = −3x +5 3x +y = 5
x −6y = 4 {y = 2x +3 2x −y = −3

3/15/2021 CC-BY-NC-SA https://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/6241

3.2.8

{y=x−1
8. 5
7x−5y=9
9. {x+y=1
3x−5y=19
10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. {x−y=3

26. −2x+3y=−2 {2x+y=2

3x−2y=17
3
{x−3y=−11 3x+5y=−5
6x−9y=0
{x+2y=−3 3x−4y=−2
{y=−2
−2x−y=−6 1 {5x−y=12
9x−y=10
{y=−x+3
{x+2y=−6 −4x−8y=24 {x+3y=−6 −2x−6y=−12 {−3x+y=−4
6x−2y=−2 1
−5x+y=1 2
{x−5y=−10 2x−10y=−20 {3x−y=9
1 1 2
4x+3y=−1 {− 3x+ 6y= 3
{2x−y=5
4x+2y=−2

{2x−5y=1
4x+10y=2
{3x−7y=−3 6x+14y=0

{10x−y=3
1 1 3
2 x−y=−
1 32 2

{x+y=1
27. 3 3
1 1
4x− 3y=− 12
1
1
7x−y= 2
1
28. 1 x+y=2 2
4 2
{ 1
3
1

{−x+y=
29. 5 5 2
1 1
3x−1 2y=− 3 1

1 2

{x=y
30. 2 2
3
x−y=2
1 3 1 5

{−x+y=
31. 2 2 8
1 1 1
4 x+y= 2 4

3/15/2021 CC-BY NC-SAhttps://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/6241

3.2.9

32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 5x −3y = −1 −3x +7y = 2 x=5
8{ 3x +2y = 7 { 2x +7y = 1 { x=
−2
x −y = 0 y = 3x −3x +4y = 20
{ −x +2y = 3 { 2x −3y = 0 { 2x +8y = y = 4 5y = 20
{
Answer
1. 3. 5. 7. 9. (3, −2)
(−2, 11) (2, 2) (3, −4)
∅ (− , − ) 85 710 (x, − x −3) 12 ∅
(x, 2x +3) (4, −2) (2, −3)
11. 13. ( , 0) 12
∅
15.
(1, 1)
17. 19. 21. 23. 25. 27.
(− , − ) 1110 25 (− , ) 12 34
29. 31. 33. 35. 37.
(0, 0) ∅
(1, 2)

Exercise 3.2.7
Solvebyelimination.

1. 2.
{6x+y=3 3x−y=0 {x+y=3 2x−y=9

3/15/2021 CC-BY NC-SAhttps://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/6241

3.2.10

3.
{−2x+14y=28 x−7y=21
4. {−2x+y=4
12x−6y=−24 {x+8y=3
5.
3x+12y=6

6. {2x−3y=15 4x+10y=14
{4x+3y=−10 3x−9y=15
7.
{−4x−5y=−3 8x+3y=−15 {−2x+7y=56
8. 4x−2y=−112 {−9x−15y=−15 3x+5y=−10 {6x−7y=4
2x+6y=−7
9.
{4x+2y=4
10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. −5x−3y=−7 {5x−3y=−1 3x+2y=7

26. 27. 28. {7x+3y=9

2x+5y=−14

{9x−3y=3
{x−y=−6 7x+2y=−15
5x+y=−18
{5x−3y=−7 −7x+6y=11
{x+3y=5
−x−2y=0 {2x+9y=8
3x+7y=−1
{−x+4y=4
x−y=−7 {2x+2y=5
3x+3y=−5
{−x+y=2
x−y=−3 {−3x+6y=−12 2x−4y=8

{3x−y=−2 {25x+15y=−1 15x+10y=−1 {2x−3y=2

6x+4y=2 18x−12y=5
{5x+2y=−3 10x−y=4 {y=−2x−3
−3x−2y=4

3/15/2021 CC-BY NC-SAhttps://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/6241

3.2.11

29. 30. 31. 1 1

{2x−3y=9 5x−8y=−16 2x− 3y= 6
1

{ 28x+6y=9 6y=4x−15 {y=5x+15 y=−5x+5

32. { 5 x+y= 1 7
21 2
 {x−y=1
33. 4 9

x+y=34
1 1 1

{x−y=
34. 21 41 3 19
4 x+y=−
14 2 6

35.
{−x+2y=4 3
1 1 4
−x+y=
3 7 21

36. 37. 38. 0.5x+y=−2.75

{x+y=5
{0.025x+0.1y=0.5 0.11x+0.04y=−0.2 {1.3x+0.1y=0.35 0.02x+0.03y=0.125

Answe
r

1
1. 3. 5. 7. 9. (−1, −4) (−5, 2)
( , 1) 1
3 (x, x−2) 2
(−4, 2) (−8, −1) 1 3
13
(− , 1) 3 27.
∅ (− , −)
10
11. 13. 15. 17. 19. 21. 23. 25.
3
15
(1, )14
(−1, −2) (−28, 0) 29. 31. 33. 35. 37.
1 ( , −2) 4
(− , −1) 2
(1, 2) (120, 77) (3, −)94 ∅
(0.5, −3)

3/15/2021 CC-BY NC-SAhttps://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/6241

3.2.12

Exercise 3.2.8
Solveusinganymethod.

1. 7.

2. 8.

3. 9.

4. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

5.
{6x=12y+7
6x+24y+5=0
6.
{y=2x−3
3x+y=12
 7x=2y+23
{x+3y=−5
1 {5x+9y−14=0
y=x+5 3x+2y−5=0
3 5

{y=1 {y=−x+10
x=−4 16
5
1
{y= 2 y=x−10
x+9=0 16
6
{y=x
{y=−x+12
−x+y=1 5
x=6
{y=5x
y=−10 {2(x−3)+y=0
3
3(2x+y−1)=15
{y=−x+1
2 {3−2(x−y)=−3
−2y+2=3x 4x−3(y+1)=8

{7y=−2x−1 {2(x+1)=3(2y−1)−21 3(x+2)=1−(3y−2)

x y

{−=−7
16. 3 1
2x y 2
3 −=−8 2

{−x+y=−
17. 7 3

−114x+12y=13 y
x 3
−=
18. { 3 y +=
4x 2 41
6 5 6 1
19. 2
{y=−x+ 3
1 1
3x+ 5y= 10 1

1 1 1

{x−y=
20. 15 12 3
3
− x+y=−
10 8 2
3 3

21. 22.
{0.2x−0.05y=0.43 0.3x+0.1y=−0.3 {0.1x+0.3y=0.3
0.05x−0.5y=−0.63

3/15/2021 CC-BY NC-SAhttps://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/6241

3.2.13

23. 24.
{0.15x −0.25y = −0.3 −0.75x +1.25y = −4 {−0.15x +1.25y = 0.4
−0.03x +0.25y = 0.08

Answer 1 (−10, )53 (−9, )12

1 (−2, −10) (3, −1)
1.
(,−) 11. 13. 15. 17.
2
3 (32, 0)
3. 5. 7. 9. (x, −2x +6) (−4, 3)
∅ 5
1
19. (x − x + )

21. 23. 3 2

(0.8, −5.4) ∅

Exercise 3.2.9
1. Explain to a beginning algebra student how to choose a method for solving a system of two linear
equations. Also, explain what solutions look like and why.
2. Make up your own linear system with two variables and solve it using all three methods. Explain which
method was preferable in your exercise.

Answer
1. Answer may vary

Footnotes
11
A means of solving a linear system by solving for one of the variables and substituting the result into the other
equation. 12
Once a value is found for a variable, substitute it back into one of the original equations, or its equivalent, to
determine the corresponding value of the other variable.
13
A means of solving a system by adding equivalent equations in such a way as to eliminate a
variable. 14
Often used when referring to the elimination method for solving systems.
15
A, B, C D A = B C = D A+C = B+DIf , and are algebraic expressions, where and , then .

3/15/2021 CC-BY-NC-SA https://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/6241

3.2.14