Solve Systems in Two Variables
Learning Objectives
- Define and classify solutions to systems of linear equations
- Recognize consistent and inconsistent, dependent and independent systems of linear equations
- Determine whether an ordered pair is a solution to a system of linear equations
- Solve a system of linear equations by graphing
- Methods for solving systems
- Use substitution to solve a system algebraically
- Recognize when a system is inconsistent from algebraic results
- Find the break even point for a cost and revenue system
- Write a system of equations based on attendance and cost data
- Solve a system using the elimination method
- Solve a system using the elimination method when multiplication is required
- Recognize when a system is dependent using algebraic results
A General Note: Types of Linear Systems
There are three types of systems of linear equations in two variables, and three types of solutions.- An independent system has exactly one solution pair [latex]\left(x,y\right)[/latex]. The point where the two lines intersect is the only solution.
- An inconsistent system has no solution. Notice that the two lines are parallel and will never intersect.
- A dependent system has infinitely many solutions. The lines are coincident. They are the same line, so every coordinate pair on the line is a solution to both equations.
How To: Given a system of linear equations and an ordered pair, determine whether the ordered pair is a solution.
- Substitute the ordered pair into each equation in the system.
- Determine whether true statements result from the substitution in both equations; if so, the ordered pair is a solution.
Example
Determine whether the ordered pair [latex]\left(5,1\right)[/latex] is a solution to the given system of equations.Answer: Substitute the ordered pair [latex]\left(5,1\right)[/latex] into both equations.
[latex]\begin{array}{ll}\left(5\right)+3\left(1\right)=8\hfill & \hfill \\ \text{ }8=8\hfill & \text{True}\hfill \\ 2\left(5\right)-9=\left(1\right)\hfill & \hfill \\ \text{ }\text{1=1}\hfill & \text{True}\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
The ordered pair [latex]\left(5,1\right)[/latex] satisfies both equations, so it is the solution to the system. We can see the solution clearly by plotting the graph of each equation. Since the solution is an ordered pair that satisfies both equations, it is a point on both of the lines and thus the point of intersection of the two lines.Solving Systems of Equations by Graphing
There are multiple methods of solving systems of linear equations. For a system of linear equations in two variables, we can determine both the type of system and the solution by graphing the system of equations on the same set of axes.Example
Solve the following system of equations by graphing. Identify the type of system.[latex]\begin{array}{c}2x+y=-8\\ x-y=-1\end{array}[/latex]
Answer: Solve the first equation for [latex]y[/latex].
[latex]\begin{array}{c}2x+y=-8\\ y=-2x - 8\end{array}[/latex]
Solve the second equation for [latex]y[/latex].[latex]\begin{array}{c}x-y=-1\\ y=x+1\end{array}[/latex]
Graph both equations on the same set of axes as in the figure below. The lines appear to intersect at the point [latex]\left(-3,-2\right)[/latex]. We can check to make sure that this is the solution to the system by substituting the ordered pair into both equations[latex]\begin{array}{ll}2\left(-3\right)+\left(-2\right)=-8\hfill & \hfill \\ \text{ }-8=-8\hfill & \text{True}\hfill \\ \text{ }\left(-3\right)-\left(-2\right)=-1\hfill & \hfill \\ \text{ }-1=-1\hfill & \text{True}\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
The solution to the system is the ordered pair [latex]\left(-3,-2\right)[/latex], so the system is independent.Substitution
Solving a linear system in two variables by graphing works well when the solution consists of integer values, but if our solution contains decimals or fractions, it is not the most precise method. We will consider two more methods of solving a system of linear equations that are more precise than graphing. One such method is solving a system of equations by the substitution method, in which we solve one of the equations for one variable and then substitute the result into the second equation to solve for the second variable. Recall that we can solve for only one variable at a time, which is the reason the substitution method is both valuable and practical.How To: Given a system of two equations in two variables, solve using the substitution method.
- Solve one of the two equations for one of the variables in terms of the other.
- Substitute the expression for this variable into the second equation, then solve for the remaining variable.
- Substitute that solution into either of the original equations to find the value of the first variable. If possible, write the solution as an ordered pair.
- Check the solution in both equations.
Example
Solve the following system of equations by substitution.Answer: First, we will solve the first equation for [latex]y[/latex].
[latex]\begin{array}{llll}-x+y=-5\hfill & \hfill & \hfill & \hfill \\ -\left(8\right)+\left(3\right)=-5\hfill & \hfill & \hfill & \text{True}\hfill \\ 2x - 5y=1\hfill & \hfill & \hfill & \hfill \\ 2\left(8\right)-5\left(3\right)=1\hfill & \hfill & \hfill & \text{True}\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
The substitution method can be used to solve any linear system in two variables, but the method works best if one of the equations contains a coefficient of 1 or [latex]–1[/latex] so that we do not have to deal with fractions.Example
Solve the following system of equations.[latex]\begin{array}{l}\text{ }x=9 - 2y\hfill \\ x+2y=13\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
Answer: We can approach this problem in two ways. Because one equation is already solved for x, the most obvious step is to use substitution.
[latex]\begin{array}{r}x+2y=13\hfill \\ \left(9 - 2y\right)+2y=13\hfill \\ 9+0y=13\hfill \\ 9=13\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
Clearly, this statement is a contradiction because [latex]9\ne 13[/latex]. Therefore, the system has no solution. The second approach would be to first manipulate the equations so that they are both in slope-intercept form. We manipulate the first equation as follows.[latex]\begin{array}{l}\text{ }x=9 - 2y\hfill \\ 2y=-x+9\hfill \\ \text{ }y=-\frac{1}{2}x+\frac{9}{2}\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
We then convert the second equation expressed to slope-intercept form.[latex]\begin{array}{l}x+2y=13\hfill \\ \text{ }2y=-x+13\hfill \\ \text{ }y=-\frac{1}{2}x+\frac{13}{2}\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
Comparing the equations, we see that they have the same slope but different y-intercepts. Therefore, the lines are parallel and do not intersect.[latex]\begin{array}{l}\begin{array}{l}\\ y=-\frac{1}{2}x+\frac{9}{2}\end{array}\hfill \\ y=-\frac{1}{2}x+\frac{13}{2}\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
Writing the equations in slope-intercept form confirms that the system is inconsistent because all lines will intersect eventually unless they are parallel. Parallel lines will never intersect; thus, the two lines have no points in common. The graphs of the equations in this example are shown below.Answer
There is no solution to this system of linear equations.Example
Given the cost function [latex]C\left(x\right)=0.85x+35,000[/latex] and the revenue function [latex]R\left(x\right)=1.55x[/latex], find the break-even point.Answer: Write the system of equations using [latex]y[/latex] to replace function notation.
[latex]\begin{array}{l}\begin{array}{l}\\ y=0.85x+35,000\end{array}\hfill \\ y=1.55x\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
Substitute the expression [latex]0.85x+35,000[/latex] from the first equation into the second equation and solve for [latex]x[/latex].[latex]\begin{array}{c}0.85x+35,000=1.55x\\ 35,000=0.7x\\ 50,000=x\end{array}[/latex]
Then, we substitute [latex]x=50,000[/latex] into either the cost function or the revenue function.[latex]1.55\left(50,000\right)=77,500[/latex]
The break-even point is [latex]\left(50,000,77,500\right)[/latex]. The cost to produce 50,000 units is $77,500, and the revenue from the sales of 50,000 units is also $77,500. To make a profit, the business must produce and sell more than 50,000 units. The company will make a profit after 50,000 units are produced.Example
The cost of a ticket to the circus is $25.00 for children and $50.00 for adults. On a certain day, attendance at the circus is 2,000 and the total gate revenue is $70,000. How many children and how many adults bought tickets?Answer: Let [latex]c=[/latex] the number of children and [latex]a=[/latex] the number of adults in attendance. The total number of people is [latex]2,000[/latex]. We can use this to write an equation for the number of people at the circus that day
[latex]c+a=2,000[/latex]
The revenue from all children can be found by multiplying $25.00 by the number of children, [latex]25c[/latex]. The revenue from all adults can be found by multiplying $50.00 by the number of adults, [latex]50a[/latex]. The total revenue is $70,000. We can use this to write an equation for the revenue.[latex]25c+50a=70,000[/latex]
We now have a system of linear equations in two variables.[latex]\begin{array}{c}c+a=2,000\\ 25c+50a=70,000\end{array}[/latex]
In the first equation, the coefficient of both variables is 1. We can quickly solve the first equation for either [latex]c[/latex] or [latex]a[/latex]. We will solve for [latex]a[/latex].[latex]\begin{array}{c}c+a=2,000\\ a=2,000-c\end{array}[/latex]
Substitute the expression [latex]2,000-c[/latex] in the second equation for [latex]a[/latex] and solve for [latex]c[/latex].[latex]\begin{array}{l} 25c+50\left(2,000-c\right)=70,000\hfill \\ 25c+100,000 - 50c=70,000\hfill \\ \text{ }-25c=-30,000\hfill \\ \text{ }c=1,200\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
Substitute [latex]c=1,200[/latex] into the first equation to solve for [latex]a[/latex].[latex]\begin{array}{l}1,200+a=2,000\hfill \\ \text{ }\text{}a=800\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
We find that [latex]1,200[/latex] children and [latex]800[/latex] adults bought tickets to the circus that day.Elimination
A third method of solving systems of linear equations is the elimination method. In this method, we add two terms with the same variable, but opposite coefficients, so that the sum is zero. Of course, not all systems are set up with the two terms of one variable having opposite coefficients. Often we must adjust one or both of the equations by multiplication so that one variable will be eliminated by elimination.Example
Solve the given system of equations by elimination.Answer: Both equations are already set equal to a constant. Notice that the coefficient of [latex]x[/latex] in the second equation, –1, is the opposite of the coefficient of [latex]x[/latex] in the first equation, 1. We can add the two equations to eliminate [latex]x[/latex] without needing to multiply by a constant.
[latex]\begin{array}{l}3y=2\hfill \\ \text{ }y=\frac{2}{3}\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
Then, we substitute this value for [latex]y[/latex] into one of the original equations and solve for [latex]x[/latex][latex]\begin{array}{l}\text{ }-x+y=3\hfill \\ \text{ }-x+\frac{2}{3}=3\hfill \\ \text{ }-x=3-\frac{2}{3}\hfill \\ \text{ }-x=\frac{7}{3}\hfill \\ \text{ }x=-\frac{7}{3}\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
The solution to this system is [latex]\left(-\frac{7}{3},\frac{2}{3}\right)[/latex]. Check the solution in the first equation.[latex]\begin{array}{llll}\text{ }x+2y=-1\hfill & \hfill & \hfill & \hfill \\ \text{ }\left(-\frac{7}{3}\right)+2\left(\frac{2}{3}\right)=\hfill & \hfill & \hfill & \hfill \\ \text{ }-\frac{7}{3}+\frac{4}{3}=\hfill & \hfill & \hfill & \hfill \\ \text{ }-\frac{3}{3}=\hfill & \hfill & \hfill & \hfill \\ \text{ }-1=-1\hfill & \hfill & \hfill & \text{True}\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
We gain an important perspective on systems of equations by looking at the graphical representation. In the graph below, you will see that the equations intersect at the solution. We do not need to ask whether there may be a second solution because observing the graph confirms that the system has exactly one solution.Example
Solve the given system of equations by the elimination method.[latex]\begin{array}{l}3x+5y=-11\hfill \\ \hfill \\ x - 2y=11\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
Answer: Adding these equations as presented will not eliminate a variable. However, we see that the first equation has [latex]3x[/latex] in it and the second equation has [latex]x[/latex]. So if we multiply the second equation by [latex]-3,\text{}[/latex] the x-terms will add to zero.
[latex]\begin{array}\ \hfill 3x+5y=−11 \\ \hfill −3x+6y=−33 \\ \text{_____________} \\ \hfill 11y=−44 \\ \hfill y=−4 \end{array}[/latex]
For the last step, we substitute [latex]y=-4[/latex] into one of the original equations and solve for [latex]x[/latex].[latex]\begin{array}{c}3x+5y=-11\\ 3x+5\left(-4\right)=-11\\ 3x - 20=-11\\ 3x=9\\ x=3\end{array}[/latex]
Our solution is the ordered pair [latex]\left(3,-4\right)[/latex]. Check the solution in the original second equation.Example
Solve the given system of equations in two variables by elimination.Answer: One equation has [latex]2x[/latex] and the other has [latex]5x[/latex]. The least common multiple is [latex]10x[/latex] so we will have to multiply both equations by a constant in order to eliminate one variable. Let’s eliminate [latex]x[/latex] by multiplying the first equation by [latex]-5[/latex] and the second equation by [latex]2[/latex].
[latex]\begin{array}\ −10x−15y=80 \\ 10x−20y=60 \\ \text{______________} \\ \text{ }−35y=140 \\ y=−4 \end{array}[/latex]
Substitute [latex]y=-4[/latex] into the original first equation.[latex]\begin{array}{c}2x+3\left(-4\right)=-16\\ 2x - 12=-16\\ 2x=-4\\ x=-2\end{array}[/latex]
The solution is [latex]\left(-2,-4\right)[/latex]. Check it in the other equation.How To: Given a system of equations, solve using the elimination method.
- Write both equations with x- and y-variables on the left side of the equal sign and constants on the right.
- Write one equation above the other, lining up corresponding variables. If one of the variables in the top equation has the opposite coefficient of the same variable in the bottom equation, add the equations together, eliminating one variable. If not, use multiplication by a nonzero number so that one of the variables in the top equation has the opposite coefficient of the same variable in the bottom equation, then add the equations to eliminate the variable.
- Solve the resulting equation for the remaining variable.
- Substitute that value into one of the original equations and solve for the second variable.
- Check the solution by substituting the values into the other equation.
Example
Solve the given system of equations in two variables by elimination.[latex]\begin{array}{l}\frac{x}{3}+\frac{y}{6}=3\hfill \\ \frac{x}{2}-\frac{y}{4}=\text{ }1\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
Answer: First clear each equation of fractions by multiplying both sides of the equation by the least common denominator
[latex]\begin{array}{l}6\left(\frac{x}{3}+\frac{y}{6}\right)=6\left(3\right)\hfill \\ \text{ }2x+y=18\hfill \\ 4\left(\frac{x}{2}-\frac{y}{4}\right)=4\left(1\right)\hfill \\ \text{ }2x-y=4\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
Now multiply the second equation by [latex]-1[/latex] so that we can eliminate the x-variable.[latex]\begin{array}{l}-1\left(2x-y\right)=-1\left(4\right)\hfill \\ \text{ }-2x+y=-4\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
Add the two equations to eliminate the x-variable and solve the resulting equation.[latex]\begin{array}\ \hfill 2x+y=18 \\ \hfill−2x+y=−4 \\ \text{_____________} \\ \hfill 2y=14 \\ \hfill y=7 \end{array}[/latex]
Substitute [latex]y=7[/latex] into the first equation.[latex]\begin{array}{l}2x+\left(7\right)=18\hfill \\ \text{ }2x=11\hfill \\ \text{ }x=\frac{11}{2}\hfill \\ \text{ }=7.5\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
The solution is [latex]\left(\frac{11}{2},7\right)[/latex]. Check it in the other equation.[latex]\begin{array}{c}\frac{x}{2}-\frac{y}{4}=1\\ \frac{\frac{11}{2}}{2}-\frac{7}{4}=1\\ \frac{11}{4}-\frac{7}{4}=1\\ \frac{4}{4}=1\end{array}[/latex]
Example
Find a solution to the system of equations using the elimination method.[latex]\begin{array}{c}x+3y=2\\ 3x+9y=6\end{array}[/latex]
Answer: With the elimination method, we want to eliminate one of the variables by adding the equations. In this case, let’s focus on eliminating [latex]x[/latex]. If we multiply both sides of the first equation by [latex]-3[/latex], then we will be able to eliminate the [latex]x[/latex] -variable.
[latex]\begin{array}{l}\text{ }x+3y=2\hfill \\ \left(-3\right)\left(x+3y\right)=\left(-3\right)\left(2\right)\hfill \\ \text{ }-3x - 9y=-6\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
Now add the equations.[latex]\begin{array} \hfill−3x−9y=−6 \\ \hfill+3x+9y=6 \\ \hfill \text{_____________} \\ \hfill 0=0 \end{array}[/latex]
We can see that there will be an infinite number of solutions that satisfy both equations. If we rewrote both equations in the slope-intercept form, we might know what the solution would look like before adding. Let’s look at what happens when we convert the system to slope-intercept form.[latex]\begin{array}{l}\text{ }x+3y=2\hfill \\ \text{ }3y=-x+2\hfill \\ \text{ }y=-\frac{1}{3}x+\frac{2}{3}\hfill \\ 3x+9y=6\hfill \\ \text{ }9y=-3x+6\hfill \\ \text{ }y=-\frac{3}{9}x+\frac{6}{9}\hfill \\ \text{ }y=-\frac{1}{3}x+\frac{2}{3}\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
See the graph below. Notice the results are the same. The general solution to the system is [latex]\left(x, -\frac{1}{3}x+\frac{2}{3}\right)[/latex].Licenses & Attributions
CC licensed content, Original
- Determine if an Ordered Pair is a Solution to a System of Linear Equations. Authored by: James Sousa (Mathispower4u.com) for Lumen Learning. License: CC BY: Attribution.
- Determine the Number of Solutions to a System of Linear Equations From a Graph. Authored by: James Sousa (Mathispower4u.com) for Lumen Learning. License: CC BY: Attribution.
- Ex 2: Solve a System of Equations Using the Elimination Method. Authored by: James Sousa (Mathispower4u.com) . License: CC BY: Attribution.
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- Ex 2: Solve a System of Equations by Graphing. Authored by: James Sousa (Mathispower4u.com) . License: CC BY: Attribution.
- Ex 2: Solve a System of Equations Using Substitution. Authored by: James Sousa (Mathispower4u.com) . License: CC BY: Attribution.
- Unit 14: Systems of Equations and Inequalities, from Developmental Math: An Open Program. Provided by: Monterey Institute of Technology and Education Located at: https://www.nroc.org/. License: CC BY: Attribution.
- Ex: Solve a System of Equations Using Substitution - No Solution. Authored by: James Sousa (Mathispower4u.com) . License: CC BY: Attribution.
- Ex: Solve a System of Equations Using Substitution - Infinite Solutions. Authored by: James Sousa (Mathispower4u.com) . License: CC BY: Attribution.
- Ex: Solve an Application Problem Using a System of Linear Equations (09x-43). Authored by: James Sousa (Mathispower4u.com) . License: Public Domain: No Known Copyright.
- Ex 1: Solve a System of Equations Using the Elimination Method. Authored by: James Sousa (Mathispower4u.com) . License: CC BY: Attribution.
- Ex: Solve a System of Equations Using Eliminations (Fractions). Authored by: James Sousa (Mathispower4u.com) . License: CC BY: Attribution.
- Ex: System of Equations Using Elimination (Infinite Solutions). Authored by: James Sousa (Mathispower4u.com) . License: CC BY: Attribution.
- Ex: System of Equations Using Elimination (No Solution). Authored by: James Sousa (Mathispower4u.com) . License: CC BY: Attribution.
CC licensed content, Specific attribution
- Precalculus. Provided by: OpenStax Authored by: OpenStax College. Located at: https://cnx.org/contents/[email protected]:1/Preface. License: CC BY: Attribution.