SYSTEMS OF

EQUATIONS
SYSTEMS OF LINEAR EQUATIONS

A system of linear equations consists of

two or more linear equations.
This section focuses on only two equations
at a time.
The solution of a system of linear
equations in two variables is any ordered
pair that solves both of the linear
equations.
 FINDING A SOLUTION BY GRAPHING
y
Example (-5, 5)
(-2, 4) (6, 6)
Solve the following
system of (4, 2)
(1, 3)
equations by
graphing. x
(3, 0)
2x – y = 6 and
x + 3y = 10

First, graph 2x – y = 6.
Second, graph x + 3y = 10. (0, -6)

The lines APPEAR to intersect at (4, 2). Continued.

SOLUTION OF A SYSTEM

Example
Determine whether the given point is a solution of
the following system.
point: (– 3, 1)
system: x – y = – 4 and 2x + 10y = 4
•Plug the values into the equations.
First equation: – 3 – 1 = – 4 true
Second equation: 2(– 3) + 10(1) = – 6 + 10 = 4
true
•Since the point (– 3, 1) produces a true statement in
SOLUTION OF A SYSTEM

Example
Determine whether the given point is a solution of the
following system
point: (4, 2)
system: 2x – 5y = – 2 and 3x + 4y = 4
Plug the values into the equations
First equation: 2(4) – 5(2) = 8 – 10 = – 2 true
Second equation: 3(4) + 4(2) = 12 + 8 = 20  4 false
Since the point (4, 2) produces a true statement in only one
equation, it is NOT a solution.
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
• Coincident lines, so infinite # of solutions

• If there is at least one solution, the system is considered

to be consistent.
• If the system defines distinct lines, the equations are
independent.
•
SOLVING SYSTEMS OF LINEAR EQUATIONS BY
SUBSTITUTION
THE SUBSTITUTION METHOD

Another method (beside getting lucky with trial and error)

that can be used to solve systems of equations is called
the substitution method.
You solve one equation for one of the variables, then
substitute the new form of the equation into the other
equation for the solved variable.
 THE SUBSTITUTION METHOD

Example
Solve the following system using the substitution
method.
3x – y = 6 and – 4x + 2y = –8

Solving the first equation for y,

3x – y = 6
–y = –3x + 6 (subtract 3x from both sides)
y = 3x – 6 (multiply both sides by – 1)
Substitute this value for y in the second equation.
–4x + 2y = –8
–4x + 2(3x – 6) = –8 (replace y with result from first
equation)
–4x + 6x – 12 = –8 (use the distributive property)
2x – 12 = –8 (simplify the left side)
Continued.
2x = 4 (add 12 to both sides)
THE SUBSTITUTION METHOD

Example continued
Substitute x = 2 into the first equation solved for
y.
y = 3x – 6 = 3(2) – 6 = 6 – 6 = 0
Our computations have produced the point (2, 0).
Check the point in the original equations.
First equation,
3x – y = 6
3(2) – 0 = 6 true
Second equation,
–4x + 2y = –8
–4(2) + 2(0) = –8 true
THE SUBSTITUTION METHOD

Solving a System of Linear Equations by the

Substitution Method
1) Solve one of the equations for a variable.
2) Substitute the expression from step 1 into the other equation.
3) Solve the new equation.
4) Substitute the value found in step 3 into either equation
containing both variables.
5) Check the proposed solution in the original equations.
THE SUBSTITUTION METHOD

Example

Solve the following system of equations using

the substitution method.
y = 2x – 5 and 8x – 4y = 20

Since the first equation is already solved for y,

substitute this value into the second equation.
8x – 4y = 20
8x – 4(2x – 5) = 20 (replace y with
result from first equation)
Continued.
8x – 8x + 20 = 20 (use distributive
THE SUBSTITUTION METHOD

Example continued
When you get a result, like the one on the
previous slide, that is obviously true for any
value of the replacements for the variables, this
indicates that the two equations actually
represent the same line.
There are an infinite number of solutions for this
system. Any solution of one equation would
automatically be a solution of the other equation.
This represents a consistent system and the
linear equations are dependent equations.
THE SUBSTITUTION METHOD

Example
Solve the following system of equations using the
substitution method.
3x – y = 4 and 6x – 2y = 4
Solve the first equation for y.
3x – y = 4
–y = –3x + 4 (subtract 3x from both
sides)
y = 3x – 4 (multiply both sides by –
1)
Substitute this value for y into the second equation.
6x – 2y = 4
6x – 2(3x – 4) = 4 (replace y with the result from Continued.
the first
equation)
THE SUBSTITUTION METHOD

Example continued
When you get a result, like the one on the
previous slide, that is never true for any value
of the replacements for the variables, this
indicates that the two equations actually are
parallel and never intersect.

There is no solution to this system.

This represents an inconsistent system, even

though the linear equations are independent.
EXAMPLES

1. 3x + 2y = 12
2x + 3y = 13

2. 2x – y = -1
3x + 2y = 0
SOLVING SYSTEMS OF LINEAR EQUATIONS BY
ADDITION
THE ELIMINATION METHOD

Another method that can be used to solve systems of

equations is called the addition or elimination method.

You multiply both equations by numbers that will allow you

to combine the two equations and eliminate one of the
variables.
THE ELIMINATION METHOD

Example
Solve the following system of equations using the
elimination method.
6x – 3y = –3 and 4x + 5y = –9
Multiply both sides of the first equation by 5 and the
second equation by 3.
First equation,
5(6x – 3y) = 5(–3)
30x – 15y = –15 (use the distributive
property)
Second equation,
3(4x + 5y) = 3(–9) Continued.
12x + 15y = –27 (use the distributive
THE ELIMINATION METHOD

Example continued

Combine the two resulting equations

(eliminating the variable y).
30x – 15y = –15
12x + 15y = –27
42x = –42
x = –1 (divide both sides by
42)

Continued.
 THE ELIMINATION METHOD

Example continued

Substitute the value for x into one of the original

equations.
6x – 3y = –3
6(–1) – 3y = –3 (replace the x value in the first equation)
–6 – 3y = –3 (simplify the left side)
–3y = –3 + 6 = 3 (add 6 to both sides and
simplify)
y = –1 (divide both sides by –3)

Our computations have produced the point (–1, –

1). Continued.
THE ELIMINATION METHOD

Example continued
Check the point in the original equations.
First equation,
6x – 3y = –3
6(–1) – 3(–1) = –3 true
Second equation,
4x + 5y = –9
4(–1) + 5(–1) = –9 true
The solution of the system is (–1, –1).
 THE ELIMINATION METHOD

Solving a System of Linear Equations by the

Addition or Elimination Method
1) Rewrite each equation in standard form, eliminating
fraction coefficients.
2) If necessary, multiply one or both equations by a
number so that the coefficients of a chosen variable
are opposites.
3) Add the equations.
4) Find the value of one variable by solving equation
from step 3.
5) Find the value of the second variable by
substituting the value found in step 4 into either
original equation.
6) Check the proposed solution in the original
equations.
THE ELIMINATION METHOD

Example
Solve the following system of equations
using the elimination method.
2 1 3
x  y 
3 4 2
1 1
x  y  2
2 4

First multiply both sides of the equations by a number

that will clear the fractions out of the equations.
Continued.
THE ELIMINATION METHOD

Example continued
Multiply both sides of each equation by 12. (Note:
you don’t have to multiply each equation by the same
number, but in this case it will be convenient to do so.)
First equation,
2 1 3
x  y 
3 4 2
2 1   3
12 x  y  12   (multiply both sides by 12)
3 4   2
8 x  3 y  18 (simplify both sides)

Continued.
 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.
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.
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
youFirst
mightequation,
have made.) 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).