Putting it Together: Linear Systems
In this module, we came a few steps closer to solving the $1,000,000 question by learning some of the basic principles of systems of equations. We learned that using systems of linear equations with two and three variables allows us to describe relationships that are affected by a number of variables. We saw that graphing systems is the same as graphing single equations, and that the solution to a system of two linear equations is the point where the two lines intersect. We also saw that the solution to a systems of three linear equations in three variables is an ordered triple, and the geometric solution is the intersection of three planes in space. The number of practical applications for systems of equations spans nearly all disciplines from geology to business to economics to engineering and beyond. For example, electrical engineers may be interested in defining the strength of a current flowing through a circuit as shown in the diagram below.
