4.

9 Solving Real-World and Mathematical Problems

to Create a System of Linear Equations
Use after Supplement Lesson 4.8.

Mathematical situations can present information in any of the four representations. Many times
the skills learned with linear functions are required when solving linear systems.

Example 1
Determine if the line passing through (−3, − 7.5) and (8, − 2) will intersect the line
passing through (−1.5, 9) and (3, − 9) . Then, state the solution to the system.

A. To find the solution to the system, we need the equations of both lines in slope-
intercept form.
1 – For the points (−3, − 7.5) and (8, − 2)
Find the slope using the slope formula:
y − y1 (−2) − (−7.5) 5.5 1
m= 2 = = =
x2 − x1 (8) − (−3) 11 2

1
Find the y-intercept using (8, − 2) and m = in the y = mx + b formula:
2
 1
(−2) =  (8) + b
 2
−2 = 4 + b
4 − 4 + b = −2 − 4
b = −6
1
Write the equation: y = x − 6
2

2 – For the points (−1.5, 9) and (3, − 9)

Find the slope using the slope formula:
y − y1 (−9) − (9) −18
m= 2 = = = −4
x2 − x1 (3) − (−1.5) 4 .5

Find the y-intercept using (3, − 9) and m = −4 in y = mx + b :

(−9) = (−4)(3) + b
−9 = −12 + b
−12 + 12 + b = −9 + 12
b=3
Write the equation: y = −4 x + 3

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 
y = − 1 x −6
3 – The system of linear equations is  2

 y = −4 x + 3

B. Will the two lines intersect?

Yes
How do you know?
The slopes of the lines are different.

C. Solve the system by setting the equations equal to each other.

1 9
x − 6 = −4x + 3 x −6 +6 = 3 +6
2 2
1 9
x + 4x − 6 = −4x + 4x + 3 x=9
2 2
 2  9  
1
4 x−6= 3   x =  2  9
2 
 9  2  9 
x=2

Solve y = −4 x + 3 for y, when x = 2 :

y = −4 (2) + 3
y = −8 + 3
y = −5

The solution is (2, − 5).

1
D. Check the solution by substituting (2, − 5) into y = x − 6.
2
1
y= x − 6, when x = 2 and y = −5
2
?
1
(−5) = (2) − 6
2
?
− 5 = 1− 6
− 5 = −5

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 Many real-world problems present the needed information in verbal form. The following
situation requires your ability to translate the problem information into two linear equations in
standard form.

Example 2
Use the situation to complete each problem.
José went to the computer store and purchased 5 cables and 3 adapters for $114.00.
Dietrich went to the store’s website and purchased 2 cables and 10 adapters for $72.00.
How much does the store charge for 1 cable and 1 adapter?
The standard form of a linear equation, Ax + By = C , has the x and y variable terms on
one side of the equation and a constant term on the other side. Recall that the operation
between a variable and its coefficient is multiplication: The term Ax means A times x, and
By means B times y.
A linear equation in standard form represents a situation in which two different
unknowns involving multiplication are set equal to a fixed numerical amount. A system
of linear equations represents two situations involving the same two unknowns in the
same context.
The following is a breakdown of the problem in this example:
• The unknowns are the price of 1 cable and the price of 1 adapter. We know
this by looking at the question in the problem. Thus, let x represent the price of
1 cable and y represent the price of 1 adapter.
• The two linear equations represent José’s purchases and Dietrich’s purchases.
• The multiplication is the number of each item purchased times the price of each
item. The constant term is the total amount purchased by each customer.

A. Write the system of linear equations that represents the function situation.
1 – José purchased 5 cables and 3 adapters for $114.00. The following translates
his equation from words to algebra:
The cost of 5 cables plus the cost of 3 adapters equals 114.
5 times the price of 1 cable + 3 times the price of 1 adapter = 114
5 x + 3 y = 114
José’s situation is represented by 5 x + 3 y = 114.
2 – Dietrich purchased 2 cables and 10 adapters for $72.00. The following
translates his equation from words to algebra:
The cost of 2 cables plus the cost of 10 adapters equals 72.
2 times the price of 1 cable + 10 times the price of 1 adapter = 72
2 x + 10 y = 72
Dietrich’s situation is represented by 2 x + 10 y = 72.

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 3 – The system of linear equations for this problem is:
5 x + 3 y = 114

2 x + 10 y = 72
where x represents the price of 1 cable,
and y represents the price of 1 adapter

B. Solve the system using the elimination method.

5 x + 3 y = 114
2 x + 10 y = 72

1 – Multiply 5 x + 3 y = 114 by 2, and multiply 2 x + 10 y = 72 by −5.

2(5x + 3y = 114) 2(5x) + 2(3y) = 2(114)
−5(2x + 10y = 72) (−5)(2x) + (−5)(10y) = (−5)(72)

10 x + 6 y = 228
−10 x − 50 y = −360

2 – Add vertically to eliminate the x-terms and solve for y.

10x + 6y = 228 −44 y −132
=
−10x − 50y = −360 −44 −44
−44y = −132 y=3

3 – Substitute y = 3 into 5 x + 3 y = 114 to find the value of x.

Solve 5 x + 3 y = 114 for x, when y = 3 :
5 x + 3 (3) = 114
5 x + 9 = 114
5 x + 9 − 9 = 114 − 9
5 x 105
=
5 5
x = 21

4 – State the solution as an ordered pair.

The solution is (21, 3).

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 5 – Check the solution in 2 x + 10 y = 72.
2 x + 10 y = 72, when x = 21 and y = 3
?
2(21) + 10 (3) = 72
?
42 + 30 = 72
72 = 72
6 – Write the solution in a complete sentence with appropriate units.
The price of 1 cable is $21.00 and the price of 1 adapter is $3.00.

Determine if the line passing through (−6, 0.5) and (2, 6.5) will intersect the line passing
through (−1, − 5.5) and (4, − 18) . Then, answer the questions.

4.9.1) Find the slope of the line passing through (−6, 0.5) and (2, 6.5) using the slope formula.
Show all work and substitution.
y − y1
m= 2 =
x2 − x1

4.9.2) Find the y-intercept using (−6, 0.5) and the calculated slope in the y = mx + b formula:

4.9.3) Write the equation for the line passing through (−6, 0.5) and (2, 6.5).

4.9.4) Find the slope of the line passing through (−1, − 5.5) and (4, − 18) using the slope
formula. Show all work and substitution.
y − y1
m= 2 =
x2 − x1

58
 4.9.5) Find the y-intercept using (−1, − 5.5) and the calculated slope in the y = mx + b formula:

4.9.6) Write the equation for the line passing through (−1, − 5.5) and (4, − 18).

Equation 1:___________________

4.9.7) Write the system of linear equations. 

Equation 2:__________________
__

4.9.8) Will the two lines intersect? ____________

How do you know? ______________________________________________

4.9.9) Start solving the system by setting the equations equal to each other and finding
the x-value.

4.9.10) Use the x-value from the last problem to solve equation 1 for y.

4.9.11) State the solution as an ordered pair: _______________________

4.9.12) Check the solution by substituting the solution into equation 2.

Use the situation to complete each problem.

Chloe went to an accessories boutique and purchased 3 necklaces and 3 bracelets for
$112.50. Geneva went to the same boutique and purchased 4 of the same necklaces
and 2 of the same bracelets for $100.00. What was the price of 1 bracelet and the price
of 1 necklace that the girls purchased?

4.9.13) Define the variables:

Let b represent the ____________________________________________.

Let n represent the ____________________________________________.

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4.9.14) Write the linear equation that represents Chloe’s purchases.

4.9.15) Write the linear equation that represents Geneva’s purchases.

4.9.16) Write the system of linear equations for this problem.

Chloe’s equation:_____________________



Geneva’s equation:___
_________________

4.9.17) Solve the system using the elimination method.

A. Multiply each equation by the correct factor to make the b-terms opposites. Multiply
Geneva’s equation by the negative factor. Then, rewrite the system so there are
no parentheses.

B. Now, add the equations from the previous step vertically so they become a single
equation in one variable.

C. Solve the equation in one variable for that variable.

D. Substitute the result from the previous step into Chloe’s equation and solve for the
remaining variable.

E. Write the solution for the system.

F. Check the solution with Geneva’s equation.

G. Write the solution in a complete sentence with appropriate units.

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