Linear Equations

Simple equation
An equation with one unknown is known as a simple equation.
An equation of the form ax = b where a « 0 is an example of a simple equation.

Degree of an equation
he highest power of the unknown (also referred to as the variable) present in the equation is called the degree of an

equation.
The degree of the equation, ax = b where a 0 is 1 because the highest power of the unknown () is 1

Solution of an equation
The solution of an equation is the value of the unknown that satisfies the given equation.

Linear equation
An equation of the first degree in one unknownis called a linear equation in one variable. In other words, an equation
is linear in a certain variable if it is of the first degree in that variable.
An equation of the type ax +b=corax = cwhere a, b, care constants and a 0 is an example of such an equation.
The solution of any linear equation can be reduced to the solution of an equation of the form ax = bwhere a, b are
known numbers. The linear equation ax = b always has only one root given by, x =

llustrative Example 1
Solve the first-degree linear equation 5x 3 13 3x
Grouping the terms containing the variable x on one side and the constant terms on the other side we get,
5x+3x= 13+3
=> 8x = 16 => x = 2.

Independent equation
Equations providing a unique set of solutions are called independent equations.

Dependent equation
A system of linear equations in which one equation can be obtained from the other by multiplying or dividing by an
appropriate constant is called a system of dependent equations.

Linear equation in two variables

An equation of the first degree in the form ax + by =

C, where a, b, c are real numbers, is called a linear
equation in
two variables x and y.

A set of equations a,x +

b,y
C, and a,x + by c, is known as a system of simultaneous
=
=

unknowns. Here, the values of the two unknowns x and y have to be found. equations in two
 solution is sai
equation having at
least o n e
said
Systems of linear simultaneous
linear equations
of two
A system consisting
Lonsgistent5Ystem:
to be a consistent system. solution at ail, is called inconsisten.
nt
equations,
having no
simultaneous linear
A system of two
Inconsistentsystem;
system.
simultaneous
linear equations:
There are two methods to solve
a system of

Method 1-Solving by substitution variable, x or y in terms

of the other. Then,
substitute this value
the value of one
From one of the two equations, find Solve this linear equation.
a linear equation in one variable.
Or the vanable in the other equation
thus obtaining

llustrative Example 2
2x + -7 and y 3x = 5.
Solve the set of equations: 3y =

From the second equation y -

3x = 5 we get, y =
3x + 5.
5) -7
equation we get, 2x +3 (3x + =

Substituting the value of y as 3x + 5 in the first

or 11x= -22 or x = -2.

Therefore, y =3(-2) + 5 = -1.

Method 2-Solving by eliminating one unknown

Mutiply the equations by suitable constants such that the coefficients of one of the variables becomes equal in both
the equations.
Then, add or subtract the two equations so that the variable whose coefficient has been made equal in both the
equations gets eliminated.

llustrative Example3
Find the value of x and y such that 3x + 2y 17 and 4x +
=
3y= 24.
Let us eliminate y by making the coefficients of in both the
y equations equal.
The coefficients of y in the two equations are 2 and 3. The LCM of
2 and 3 is 6, so we can make the coefficients of
yin both the equations to be equal to 6.

Multiplying first equation by 3 and the second equation by 2 we get, 9x+ 6y 51 and 8x + 6y =
48
Subtracting the equation 8x + 6y 48 from the equation 9x +6y 51 we
=
get 9x-8x =
51 -

48 or x =
3.
Substituting the value of x as 3 in the equation 3x + 2y 17 we get, y = 4.
 Different types of solutions
A system of linear equations may have of the
one
following three types of solutions: A unique solution set or an
infinite number of solution sets or no solution set.
A system of two simultaneous linear equations a,x +
b,y C, and a,x + b,y C has
= =

i. An unique solution,if or a,b, a,b

a2 b
i. An infinite number ofsolutions if 1 - ,
b2 C2
ii. No solutionif
b

Note
The lines represented by the linear equations a,x + b,y = , and a,x + b,y = c, will be
Intersecting, if the system has a unique solution.
1. Coincident, if the system has an infinite solution.
ii. Parallel, if the system has no solution.

Special cases in linear equations

1) In asystem of simultaneous equations,ifthe number of equations is less than the number of unknowns, then
we say that the variables are 'indeterminate' or it is an indeterminate system of equations.
In these kind of equations, the values of the variables cannot be uniquely determined. There will be infinite
sets of solutions that satisfy the equations.
For example, the equation 2x + 3y= 4 will have infinite number of solutions.
The set of equations x +3y + 4z = 5, 2x + 3y - 3z = 6 is indeterminate and does not have any unique
solution.

2) However, even in case of indeterminate equations it is possible to determine the value of one of the variables
uniquely.
That is, if there are two equations in three variables, we might be able to determine the value of one variable
uniquely but the other two variables will have infinite number of values.

3) In some cases, we might not be able to determine the values of the variables uniquely even if we have three
equations in three variables. This will happen if the equations are dependent, that is one of the given equa-
tions can be written asa linear combination of the other two equations. For
example, the set of equations:
x+ 4y +3z = 6
2x + 3y + 3z= 5
4x+11y + 9z = 17

This set of equations does not have a unique solution because the set of equations are not independent. The
third equation can be obtained by multiplying the first equation by 2 and adding the result to the second
equation.
 Exercise Problems
The length of a recangle is five times its width. If the perimeter of the rectangle is 48 m, find the area of the
rectangle. lotb 4Cat) oatbt 29- 3 1 )
ab

A two digit number is four times the sum of its digits. If 27 is added to the number, it becomes seven times
the sum of the digits. What is the two digit number?

Six years ago the ratio of the ages of the two persons A and B was 3: 2. Four
37 years hence the ratio of their
ages will be 8: 7. What are their present ages?

A1L
3 3 9 4
olve the equations: X++ y 2 and 1 BT
X- y X+ y X-y
X-y 2

5. The age of a father will be four times that of his son two years from now. And four years from then, the
father's age will be three times that of his son. How many years from now will the father's age be twice as
much as the son's?

6. h e cost of 1 pencil, 2 pens and 4 erasers is $6 and the cost of 4 pens, 5 pencils, and 2 erasers is $18. How
much will3 pencils, 3 pens, and 3 erasers cost?

find the value of k for which the system of equations, 2x + 3y = 5, 4x + 6y = k has infinite number of
solutions.
8 For what value of 'k' will the equations x + 2y-3 =
0, 5x + ky +7 =0 have a unique solution?

Answer Key 24t6

(3V)
(1) 80 m2 (2) 36 (3) 12 and 10 years. (4) (4, 2)
(5) 18 (6) $12 (7) k 10 (8) k10