Systems of Linear Equations Discussion
Systems of Linear Equations Discussion
Equations
Chapter Sections
4 4
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics
Solving Systems of Linear
Equations by Graphing
Systems of Linear Equations
First, graph 2x – y = 6.
Second, graph x + 3y = 10. (0, -6)
First, graph – x + 3y = 6.
Second, graph 3x – 9y = 9.
The lines APPEAR to be parallel. Continued.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 12
Finding a Solution by Graphing
Example continued
Although the lines appear to be parallel, you still need to check
that they have the same slope. You can do this by solving for y.
First equation,
–x + 3y = 6
3y = x + 6 (add x to both sides)
1
y= x+2 (divide both sides by 3)
3
Second equation,
3x – 9y = 9
–9y = –13x + 9 (subtract 3x from both sides)
y= 3x–1 (divide both sides by –9)
Both lines have a slope of 13 , so they are parallel and do not
intersect. Hence, there is no solution to the system.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 13
Finding a Solution by Graphing
y
Example
Solve the following
system of equations (5, 2)
by graphing.
(-1, 0) (2, 1)
x = 3y – 1 and x
2x – 6y = –2 (-4, -1)
(7, -2)
First, graph x = 3y – 1.
Second, graph 2x – 6y = –2.
The lines APPEAR to be identical. Continued.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 14
Finding a Solution by Graphing
Example continued
Although the lines appear to be identical, you still need to check
that they are identical equations. You can do this by solving for y.
First equation,
x = 3y – 1
3y = x + 1 (add 1 to both sides)
1 1
y= x + (divide both sides by 3)
3 3
Second equation,
2x – 6y = – 2
–6y = – 2x – 2 (subtract 2x from both sides)
1 1
y= x + (divide both sides by -6)
3 3
The two equations are identical, so the graphs must be identical.
There are an infinite number of solutions to the system (all the
points on the line).
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 15
Types of Systems
• There are three possible outcomes when
graphing two linear equations in a plane.
• One point of intersection, so one solution
• Parallel lines, so no solution
21 21
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics
Solving Systems of Linear
Equations by Substitution
The Substitution Method
Continued.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 34
The Elimination Method
Example continued
Continued.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 39
The Elimination Method
Example continued
Second equation,
1 1
x y 2
2 4
1 1
12 x y 12 2 (multiply both sides by 12)
2 4
6 x 3 y 24 (simplify both sides)
Combine the two equations.
8x + 3y = – 18
6x – 3y = – 24
14x = – 42
x = –3 (divide both sides by 14)
Continued.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 40
The Elimination Method
Example continued
Substitute the value for x into one of the original
equations.
8x + 3y = –18
8(–3) + 3y = –18
–24 + 3y = –18
3y = –18 + 24 = 6
y=2
Our computations have produced the point (–3, 2).
Continued.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 41
The Elimination Method
Example continued
Check the point in the original equations. (Note: Here you should
use the original equations before any modifications, to detect any
computational errors that you might have made.)
First equation, Second equation,
2 1 3 1 1
x y x y 2
3 4 2 2 4
2 1 3 1 1
(3) (2) (3) (2) 2
3 4 2 2 4
1 3 3 1
2 2 true
2 2 true 2 2
The solution is the point (–3, 2).
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 42
Special Cases
In a similar fashion to what you found in the last
section, use of the addition method to combine
two equations might lead you to results like . . .
5 = 5 (which is always true, thus indicating that
there are infinitely many solutions, since the two
equations represent the same line), or
0 = 6 (which is never true, thus indicating that there
are no solutions, since the two equations represent
parallel lines).
Systems of Linear
Equations and Problem
Solving
Problem Solving Steps
Example continued
2.) Translate
One number is 4 more than twice the second number.
x = 4 + 2y
x + y = 25
Continued
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 47
Finding an Unknown Number
Example continued
3.) Solve
We are solving the system x = 4 + 2y and x + y = 25
Using substitution method, we substitute the solution for x from the
first equation into the second equation.
x + y = 25
(4 + 2y) + y = 25 (replace x with result from first equation)
Example continued
4.) Interpret
Check: Substitute x = 18 and y = 7 into both of the equations.
First equation,
x = 4 + 2y
18 = 4 + 2(7) true
Second equation,
x + y = 25
18 + 7 = 25 true
1.) Understand
Read and reread the problem. Suppose the number of students
tickets was 200. Since the total number of tickets sold was
311, the number of non student tickets would have to be 111
(311 – 200).
Continued
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 50
Solving a Problem
Example continued
1.) Understand (continued)
Are the total receipts $385.50? Admission for the 200 students
will be 200($0.50), or $100. Admission for the 111 non
students will be 111($1.50) = $166.50. This gives total receipts
of $100 + $166.50 = $266.50. Our proposed solution is
incorrect, but we now have a better understanding of the
problem.
Since we are looking for two numbers, we let
s = the number of student tickets
n = the number of non-student tickets Continued
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 51
Solving a Problem
Example continued
2.) Translate
Hilton University Drama club sold 311 tickets for a play.
s + n = 311
Example continued
3.) Solve
We are solving the system s + n = 311 and 0.50s + 1.50n = 385.50
Since the equations are written in standard form (and we might like
to get rid of the decimals anyway), we’ll solve by the addition
method. Multiply the second equation by –2.
s + n = 311 s + n = 311
simplifies to
2(0.50s + 1.50n) = 2(385.50) s – 3n = 771
2n = 460
n = 230
Now we substitute the value for n into the first equation.
s + n = 311 s + 230 = 311 s = 81 Continued
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 53
Solving a Problem
Example continued
4.) Interpret
Check: Substitute s = 81 and n = 230 into both of the equations.
First equation,
s + n = 311
81 + 230 = 311 true
Second equation,
0.50s + 1.50n = 385.50
0.50(81) + 1.50(230) = 385.50
40.50 + 345 = 385.50 true
State: There were 81 student tickets and 230 non student
tickets sold.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 54
Solving a Rate Problem
Example
Terry Watkins can row about 10.6 kilometers in 1 hour
downstream and 6.8 kilometers upstream in 1 hour. Find how fast
he can row in still water, and find the speed of the current.
1.) Understand
Read and reread the problem. We are going to propose a
solution, but first we need to understand the formulas we will be
using. Although the basic formula is d = r • t (or r • t = d), we
have the effect of the water current in this problem. The rate
when traveling downstream would actually be r + w and the rate
upstream would be r – w, where r is the speed of the rower in
still water, and w is the speed of the water current.
Continued
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 55
Solving a Rate Problem
Example
1.) Understand (continued)
Suppose Terry can row 9 km/hr in still water, and the water
current is 2 km/hr. Since he rows for 1 hour in each direction,
downstream would be (r + w)t = d or (9 + 2)1 = 11 km
Upstream would be (r – w)t = d or (9 – 2)1 = 7 km
Our proposed solution is incorrect (hey, we were pretty close for
a guess out of the blue), but we now have a better understanding
of the problem.
Since we are looking for two rates, we let
r = the rate of the rower in still water
w = the rate of the water current Continued
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 56
Solving a Rate Problem
Example continued
2.) Translate
rate time distance
downstream downstream downstream
(r + w) • 1 = 10.6
(r – w) • 1 = 6.8
Continued
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 57
Solving a Rate Problem
Example continued
3.) Solve
We are solving the system r + w = 10.6 and r – w = 6.8
Since the equations are written in standard form, we’ll solve by the
addition method. Simply combine the two equations together.
r + w = 10.6
r – w = 6.8
2r = 17.4
r = 8.7
Example continued
4.) Interpret
Check: Substitute r = 8.7 and w = 1.9 into both of the
equations.
First equation,
(r + w)1 = 10.6
(8.7 + 1.9)1 = 10.6 true
Second equation,
(r – w)1 = 1.9
(8.7 – 1.9)1 = 6.8 true
State: Terry’s rate in still water is 8.7 km/hr and the rate of
the water current is 1.9 km/hr.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 59
Solving a Mixture Problem
Example
A Candy Barrel shop manager mixes M&M’s worth $2.00 per pound
with trail mix worth $1.50 per pound. Find how many pounds of each
she should use to get 50 pounds of a party mix worth $1.80 per pound.
1.) Understand
Read and reread the problem. We are going to propose a
solution, but first we need to understand the formulas we will be
using. To find out the cost of any quantity of items we use the
formula
price per unit • number of units = price of all units
Continued
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 60
Solving a Mixture Problem
Example
1.) Understand (continued)
Suppose the manage decides to mix 20 pounds of M&M’s.
Since the total mixture will be 50 pounds, we need 50 – 20 = 30
pounds of the trail mix. Substituting each portion of the mix
into the formula,
M&M’s $2.00 per lb • 20 lbs = $40.00
trail mix $1.50 per lb • 30 lbs = $45.00
Mixture $1.80 per lb • 50 lbs = $90.00
Continued
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 61
Solving a Mixture Problem
Example
1.) Understand (continued)
Since $40.00 + $45.00 $90.00, our proposed solution is
incorrect (hey, we were pretty close again), but we now have a
better understanding of the problem.
Since we are looking for two quantities, we let
x = the amount of M&M’s
y = the amount of trail mix
Continued
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 62
Solving a Mixture Problem
Example continued
2.) Translate
Fifty pounds of party mix
x + y = 50
2x + 1.5y = 1.8(50) = 90
Continued
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 63
Solving a Mixture Problem
Example continued
3.) Solve
We are solving the system x + y = 50 and 2x + 1.50y = 90
Since the equations are written in standard form (and we might like
to get rid of the decimals anyway), we’ll solve by the addition
method. Multiply the first equation by 3 and the second equation
by –2.
3(x + y) = 3(50) 3x + 3y = 150
simplifies to
–2(2x + 1.50y) = –2(90) -4x – 3y = -180
-x = -30
x = 30
Now we substitute the value for x into the first equation.
x + y = 50 30 + y = 50 y = 20 Continued
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 64
Solving a Mixture Problem
Example continued
4.) Interpret
Check: Substitute x = 30 and y = 20 into both of the equations.
First equation,
x + y = 50
30 + 20 = 50 true
Second equation,
2x + 1.50y = 90
2(30) + 1.50(20) = 90
60 + 30 = 90 true
State: The store manager needs to mix 30 pounds of M&M’s
and 20 pounds of trail mix to get the mixture at $1.80 a pound.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 65
Source: Modified
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2. y – 4 = 2x 4.) x + y = 2
4x + 8 = 2y y=x-4