Chapter 8

Systems of
Equations
 SYSTEMS of EQUATIONS in TWO
8. VARIABLES

1 equations or two functions by

a. Solve a system of two linear
graphing and determine whether a
system is consistent or inconsistent
and whether the equations in a
system are dependent or
independent.
Solution of a System of
Equations
A solution of a system of two equations is an
ordered pair that makes both equations true.
 Example

Solve this system of equations by graphing:

y = 3x + 1
x  2y = 3
Solution
Graph each equation: y = 3x + 1
Graph (0, 1) and “count” off
a slope of 3.
x  2y = 3
Graph using the intercepts.
(1, 2) The common
(0, 3/2) (3, 0) point gives the common
solution.
 Solve this system of 3
Example equations by graphing: y  x2
4
3
Solution y  x 3
4
Graph each equation.
Both equations are in slope-
intercept form so it is easy to
see that both lines have the y = 3x/4 + 2

same slope. The y-intercepts

differ so the lines are parallel.
Because the lines are parallel,
there is no point of y = 3x/4  3
intersection. Thus the system
is inconsistent and has no
solution.
Consistent and Inconsistent
Systems
If a system of equations has at least one
solution, then it is consistent.
If a system of equations has no solution, then it
is inconsistent.
 4 x  8 y 16
Example Solve this system of
equations by graphing: 2 x  4 y 8

Solution
Graph the equations. 2x + 4y = 8
Both equations represent
(0, 2)
the same line.
(2, 1)
Because the equations are
equivalent, any solution of 4x + 8y = 16
one equation is a solution
of the other equation as
well.
Dependent and Independent
Equations
If for a system of two equations in two variables:

the graph of the equations are the some lines, then

the equations dependent.

the graphs of the equations are different lines, then

the equations are independent.
Solutions of Equations

One solution. No solution. Infinitely many solutions.

Graphs intersect. Graphs are parallel. Equations have the same
graph.
The system is The system is
consistent and the inconsistent and the The system is consistent
equations are equations are and the equations are
independent. independent. dependent.
8. SOLVING by SUBSTITUTION
2 a. Solve systems of equations in two
variables by the substitution method.
b. Solve applied problems by solving
systems of two equations using
substitution.
The Substitution Method
Graphing can be an imprecise method for solving
systems of equations.

We are now going to look at ways of finding exact

solutions using algebra.

One method for solving systems is known as the

substitution method. It uses algebra instead of
graphing and is thus considered an algebraic
method.
 Example Solve: x = 3  y (1)
5x + 3y = 5 (2)

Solution
We substitute x = 3  y for x in the second equation:
5x + 3y = 5 Equation (2)
5(3  y) + 3y = 5 Substituting
15  5y + 3y = 5 Using the distributive law
15  2y = 5
2y = 10 Solving for y
y=5
Next, we substitute 5 for y in equation (1) of the
original system:
 continued find x, y = 5

x=3y 5x + 3y = 5
x=35
x = 2 (2, 5)
We check the ordered pair
(2, 5). x=3y
x=3y 5x + 3y = 5
2 = 3  5 5(2)+3(5) = 5
2 = 2 10 + 15 = 5

The pair (2, 5) is the solution.

The graph is shown at the right as another
check.
8. SOLVING by ELIMINATION
3 a. Solve systems of equations in two
variables by the elimination method.
b. Solve applied problems by solving
systems of two equations using
elimination.
Solving by the Elimination Method
The elimination method for solving systems of
equations makes use of the addition principle.

Example Solve the system 4 x  3 y 8, (1)

x  3 y 7. (2)
According to equation (2), x  3y and 7 are the same
answer. Thus we can add 4x + 3y to the left side of
the equation(1) and 7 to the right side:
continued
Add 4 x  3 y 8 (1)
x  3 y 7 (2)
5 x  0 y 15
The resulting equation has just one variable: 5x = 15
Dividing both sides by 5, we find that x = 3.
Next, we substitute 3 for x in either of the original
equations: 4x + 3y = 8
4(3) + 3y = 8
12 + 3y = 8
3y = 4
y = 4/3 Next, we check the
ordered pair (3, 4/3).
continued
Check: 4x + 3y = 8 x  3y = 7
4(3) + 3(4/3) 8 3  3(4/3) 7
12  4 3+4
8=8 7=7
True True

The graph shown to

the right also serves
as a check.

Since (3, 4/3) checks

in both equations, it is
the solution.
 When deciding which variable to eliminate, we
inspect the coefficients in both equations. If one
coefficient is a multiple of the coefficient of the
same variable in the other equation, that is the
easiest variable to eliminate.

Example Solve: 2 x  5 y  1, (1)

3 x  10 y 16. (2)

Solution: No terms are opposites, but if both sides of

equation (1) are multiplied by 2, the coefficients of y
will be opposites.
 2 x  5 y  1, (1)
continued
3 x  10 y 16. (2)
4 x  10 y  2 Multiplying both sides of equation (1) by 2
3 x  10 y 16 (2)
7x 14 Adding
x 2 Solving for x

We then substitute 2 for x in either equation (1) or (2):

2 x  5 y  1 Equation (2)
2(2)  5 y  1 Substituting and solving for y
4  5 y  1
5 y  5 We leave it to you to confirm that
y  1 (2, 1) checks and is the solution.
 Example
Solve: 2 x 3 y  2, (1)
3 x 5 y  4. (2)

Solution: It is often helpful to write both equations in

Standard form before attempting to eliminate a variable:
2 x  3 y 2, (3)
3 x  5 y 4. (4)

Since neither coefficient of x is a multiple of the other and

neither coefficient of y is a multiple of the other, we use the
multiplication principle with both equations.
We can eliminate the x term by multiplying both sides of
equation (3) by 3 and both sides of equation (4) by 2.
continued 2 x  3 y 2, (3)
3 x  5 y 4. (4)

6 x  9 y 6 Multiplying both sides of equation (3) by 3

 6 x  10 y  8 Multiplying both sides of equation (4) by 2

y  2
We substitute 2 for y in equation (3):
2 x  3( 2) 2 Substituting in equation (3)

2 x  6 2
2 x  4
x  2
The solution (2, 2) checks.
 Example
Solve: 2 x  y 1, (1)
2 x  y  3. (2)

Solution: To eliminate y we multiply equation (2)

by 1. Then we add: 2 x  y 1
 2 x  y 3
0 4
Note that in eliminating y, we eliminated x as well. The
resulting equation 0 = 4, is false for any pair (x, y),
so there is no solution.
 Example
Solve: 3 x  4 y 5, (1)
9 x  12 y 15. (2)
Solution: To eliminate x, we multiply both sides of
equation (1) by 3 and then add the two equations:
 9 x  12 y  15
9 x  12 y 15
0 0
Again, we have eliminated both variables. The
resulting equation, 0 = 0, is always true, indicating
that the equations are dependent.
 SOLVING APPLIED PROBLEMS:
8. TWO EQUATIONS (SELF STUDY)

4 a. Solve applied problems involving total

value and mixture using systems of two
equations.
b. Solved applied problems involving motion
using systems of two equations.

Copyright © 2015, 2011, and 2007 Pearson Education, Inc.

 Example
A cookware consultant sells two sizes of pizza stones. The
circular stone sells for $26 and the rectangular one sells for
$34. In one month she sold 37 stones. If she made a total of
$1138 from the sale of the pizza stones, how many of each
size did she sell?

1. Familiarize. When faced with a new problem, it is often

useful to compare it to a similar problem that you have already
solved. Here instead of $2 and $3 drinks, we are counting
pizza stones. We let c = the circular stone and r = the
rectangular stone.
2. Translate. Since a total of 37 stones were sold, we
have c + r = 37.
continued
Presenting the information in a table can be helpful.

Circular Rectangular Total

Cost per pan $26 $34
Number of c r 37 c + r = 37
pans
Money Paid 26c 34r $1138 26c + 34r = 1138

We have translated to a system of equations:

c + r = 37
26c + 34r = 1138
 continued c + r = 37
26c + 34r = 1138

3. Solve. The system can be solved using elimination:

26c  26r = 962 Multiply equation (1) by 26

26c + 34r = 1138 Equation (2)

8r = 176 Adding
Dividing both sides by 8
r = 22
To solve for c, we substitute 22 for r:
c + r = 37
c + 22 = 37
c = 15
continued
4. Check. If r = 22 and c = 15, a total of 37 stones
were sold. The amount paid was
22($34) + 15($26) = $1138. The numbers check.

5. State. The consultant sold 22 rectangular pizza

stones and 15 circular pizza stones.
The Motion Formula
Distance = Rate (or speed)  Time
d = rt

Tips for Solving Motion Problems

1. Draw a diagram using an arrow or arrows to
represent distance and the direction of each object
in motion.
2. Organize the information in a table or chart.
3. Look for as many things as you can that are the
same, so you can write equations.
 Example
Alex’s motorboat took 4 hr to make a trip
downstream with a 5-mph current. The return trip
against the same current took 6 hr. Find the speed
of the boat in still water.
Solution
1. Familiarize. Note that the current speeds up
the boat when going downstream, but slows down
the boat when going upstream. For our guess,
suppose that the speed of the boat with no current
is 20 mph. The boat would then travel 20 + 5 = 25
mph downstream and 20 – 5 = 15 mph upstream.
continued

In 4 hr downstream the boat would travel

4(25) = 100 mi. In 6 hr upstream the boat would
travel 6(15) = 90 mi. So our guess of 20 mph is
incorrect.
2. Translate.

Let r = the rate of the boat in still water. Then

r + 5 = the boat’s speed downstream, and
r – 5 = the boat’s speed upstream.
continued
Use Distance = (Rate)(Time).

d = Distance
(r + 5)4 Rate Time
Downstream d r+5 4
d = (r – 5)6
Upstream d r–5 6

We have the following system of equations:

d (r  5)4,
d (r  5)6.
continued
3. Solve. We solve the system by substitution:
(r + 5)4 = (r – 5)6
4r + 20 = 6r – 30
50 = 2r
25 = r
4. Check. When r = 25 mph, the speed downstream
is 30 mph and the speed upstream is 20 mph. The
distance downstream is 30(4) = 120 mi and the
distance upstream is 20(6) = 120 mi, so we have a
check.
5. State. The speed of the boat in still water is
25 mph.
 SYSTEMS of EQUATIONS in THREE
8. VARAIBLES (SELF STUDY)

5 a. Solve systems of three equations in three

variables.

Copyright © 2015, 2011, and 2007 Pearson Education, Inc.

A linear equation in three variables is an
equation equivalent to one in the form
Ax + By + Cz = D, where A, B, C, and D
are real numbers. We refer to the form
Ax + By + Cz = D as standard form for a
linear equation in three variables.
A solution of a system of three equations in
three variables is an ordered triple (x, y, z)
that makes all three equations true.
 Example
Solve the following system of equations:
x  y  z 6, (1)
x  2 y  z 2, (2)
x  y  3 z 8. (3)
Solution
We select any two of the three equations and
work to get one equation in two variables. Let’s
add equations (1) and (2):
x  y  z 6 (1)
x  2 y  z 2 (2)
(4) Adding to
2x + 3y =8 eliminate z
continued
Next, we select a different pair of equations and
eliminate the same variable. Let’s use (2) and (3) to
again eliminate z.
x  2 y  z 2 Multiplying
equation (2)
3x + 6y – 3z = 6
x  y  3 z 8 by 3 x – y + 3z = 8
(5)
4x + 5y = 14.
Now we solve the resulting system of equations
(4) and (5). That will give us two of the numbers
in the solution of the original system,
2x + 3y = 8 (4)
4x + 5y = 14 (5)
continued

We multiply both sides of equation (4) by –2 and

then add to equation (5):
–4x – 6y = –16,
4x + 5y = 14
–y = –2
y=2
Substituting into either equation (4) or (5) we find
that x = 1.

Now we have x = 1 and y = 2. To find the value

for z, we use any of the three original equations
and substitute to find the third number z.
continued

Let’s use equation (1) and substitute our two

numbers in it:
x+y+z=6
1+2+z=6
z = 3.

We have obtained the ordered triple (1, 2, 3). It

should check in all three equations.

The solution is (1, 2, 3).

 To use the elimination method to solve systems of three
equations:
1. Write all the equations in standard form, Ax + By+ Cz = D.
2. Clear any decimals or fractions.
3. Choose a variable to eliminate. Then use any two of the
three equations to eliminate that variable, getting an equation
in two variables.
4. Next, use a different pair of equations and get another
equation in the same two variables. That is, eliminate the
same variable that you did in step (3).
5. Solve the resulting system (pair) of equations. That will give
two of the numbers.
6. Then use any of the original three equations to find the third
number.
 Example
Solve the following system of equations:
3 x  9 y  6 z 3 (1)
2 x  y  z 2 (2)
Solution x  y  z 2 (3)
The equations are in standard form and do
not contain decimals or fractions.
Eliminate z from equations (2) and (3).
2 x  y  z 2 (2)
x  y  z 2 (3)
(4)
3x + 2y = 4 Adding
 3 x  9 y  6 z 3 (1)
continued 2 x  y  z 2 (2)
x  y  z 2 (3)
Eliminate z from equations (1) and (2).
3 x  9 y  6 z 3 Multiplying 3 x  9 y  6 z 3
equation (2) by 6
2 x  y  z 2 12 x  6 y  6 z 12
15x + 15y = 15 Adding

Eliminate x from equations (4) and (5).

3x + 2y = 4 Multiplying top 15x – 10y = 20
by 5
15x + 15y = 15 15x + 15y = 15
5y = 5 Adding
y = 1
 3 x  9 y  6 z 3 (1)
2 x  y  z 2 (2)
continued x  y  z 2 (3)

Using y = 1, find x from equation 4 by substituting.

3x + 2y = 4
3x + 2(1) = 4
x=2
Substitute x = 2 and y = 1 to find z.
x+y+z=2
2–1+z=2
1+z=2
z=1
The solution is the ordered triple (2, 1, 1).
 SOLVING APPLIED PROBLEMS:
8. THREE EQUATIONS (SELF STUDY)

6 a. Solve applied problems using systems of

three equations.

Copyright © 2015, 2011, and 2007 Pearson Education, Inc.

 Example
In triangle ABC, the measure of angle B is three
times the measure of angle A. The measure of angle
C is 60o greater than twice the measure of angle A.
Find the measure of each angle.

Solution
1. Familiarize. We can make a sketch and
label the angles A, B, and C. Recall that the
measures of the angles in any triangle add to
180o. C
B A
continued

2. Translate. This geometric fact about triangles

gives us one equation:

A + B + C = 180.

Angle B is three times the measure of angle A.

B = 3A

Angle C is 60o greater than twice the measure of A.

C = 60 + 2A
continued

We now have the system of three equations:

A  B  C 180
B 3 A
C 60  2 A

3. Solve. Substitute into the first equation.

A  3 A  60  2 A 180
60  6 A 180
6 A 120
A 20
B 3 A C 60  2 A
3(20) 60  2(20)
60 100
 A  B  C 180
continued B 3 A
C 60  2 A

4. Check. The check is left to the student.

5. State. The angles in the triangle measure 20o,

60o, and 100o.