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.
Systems of Linear Equations
 Solution of a System
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
both equations, it is a solution.
 Solution of a System
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.
We will consider
three methods of
solving such systems:

• graphing;
• substitution; and
• elimination by
addition.

Each method has its

advantages,
depending on the
situation.
GRAPHING
 SOLVING A SYSTEM BY GRAPHING

The graph of a To solve a system by The coordinates of

line is a graph graphing, we graph any points that
of all the both equations in the the graphs have
ordered pairs same coordinate in common must
that satisfy the system. be solutions to
equation of the the system since
line. they satisfy both
equations.
SOLVING A SYSTEM BY GRAPHING

If 2 adult tickets and 1 child ticket cost $32, and if 1 adult ticket and 3 child
tickets cost $36, what is the price of each?

Now we have a system of two linear equations in two variables.

It is easy to find ordered pairs (x, y) that satisfy one or the other of these
equations. For example, the ordered pair (16, 0) satisfies the first equation
but not the second, and the ordered pair (24, 4) satisfies the second but
not the first.

To solve this system, we must find all ordered pairs of real numbers that
satisfy both equations at the same time.
SOLVING A SYSTEM BY GRAPHING

Solve the ticket problem by graphing:

 SOLVING A SYSTEM BY GRAPHING

Since our chances Since a solution of a So to find the solution

of guessing the system of equations is a of a system of 2 linear
right coordinates to solution common to both equations, graph the
try for a solution are equations, it would also equations and see
not that high, we’ll be a point common to the where the lines
be more successful graphs of both equations. intersect.
if we try a different
technique.
SOLVING A SYSTEM BY GRAPHING

Example

Solve the following system

of equations by graphing.

2x – y = 6 and
x + 3y = 10

First, graph 2x – y = 6.

Second, graph x + 3y = 10.

The lines APPEAR to

intersect at (4, 2).
SOLVING A SYSTEM BY GRAPHING

Example cont’d

Although the solution to the system of equations appears to be (4, 2), you
still need to check the answer by substituting x = 4 and y = 2 into the two
equations.

First equation,
2(4) – 2 = 8 – 2 = 6 true

Second equation,
4 + 3(2) = 4 + 6 = 10 true

The point (4, 2) checks, so it is the solution of the system.

SOLVING A SYSTEM BY GRAPHING

Example

Solve the following system

of equations by graphing.

– x + 3y = 6 and
3x – 9y = 9

First, graph – x + 3y = 6.
Second, graph 3x – 9y = 9.
The lines APPEAR to be
parallel.
SOLVING A SYSTEM BY GRAPHING

Example cont’d

Although the lines appear to be parallel, you still need to check that they
have the same slope. You can do this by solving for y.

First equation,
–x + 3y = 6
3y = x + 6 (add x to both sides)
y = 1/3 x + 2 (divide both sides by 3)

Second equation,
3x – 9y = 9
–9y = –3x + 9 (subtract 3x from both sides)
y = 1/3 x – 1 (divide both sides by –9)

Both lines have a slope of 1/3, so they are parallel and do not intersect.
Hence, there is no solution to the system.
SOLVING A SYSTEM BY GRAPHING

Example

Solve the following system

of equations by graphing.

x = 3y – 1 and
2x – 6y = –2

First, graph x = 3y – 1.
The lines APPEAR to be
identical.
SOLVING A SYSTEM BY GRAPHING

Example cont’d
Although the lines appear to be identical, you still need to check that they
are identical equations. You can do this by solving for y.

First equation,
x = 3y – 1
3y = x + 1 (add 1 to both sides)
y = 1/3 x + 1/3 (divide both sides by 3)

Second equation,
2x – 6y = – 2
2x – 6y = – 2 (subtract 2x from both sides)
y = 1/3 x + 1/3 (divide both sides by –6)

The two equations are identical, so the graphs must be identical. There
are an infinite number of solutions to the system (all the points on the
line).
• 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.
• Change both linear
equations into slope-
intercept form.

• We can then easily

determine if the lines
intersect, are parallel, or
are the same line.
SOLVING A SYSTEM BY GRAPHING

Example

How many solutions does the following system have?

3x + y = 1 and 3x + 2y = 6

Write each equation in slope-intercept form.

First equation,
3x + y = 1
y = –3x + 1 (subtract 3x from both sides)
Second equation,
3x + 2y = 6
2y = –3x + 6 (subtract 3x from both sides)

The lines are intersecting lines (since they have different slopes), so
there is one solution.
SOLVING A SYSTEM BY GRAPHING

Example

How many solutions does the following system have?

3x + y = 0 and 2y = –6x

Write each equation in slope-intercept form,

First equation,
3x + y = 0
y = –3x (Subtract 3x from both sides)
Second equation,
2y = –6x
y = –3x (Divide both sides by 2)

The two lines are identical, so there are infinitely many solutions.
SOLVING A SYSTEM BY GRAPHING

Example

How many solutions does the following system have?

2x + y = 0 and y = –2x + 1

Write each equation in slope-intercept form.

First equation,
2x + y = 0
y = –2x (subtract 2x from both sides)
Second equation,
y = –2x + 1 (already in slope-intercept form)

The two lines are parallel lines (same slope, but different y-intercepts), so
there are no solutions.
ACTIVITY NO. 1

Solve each of the following systems by graphing and determine the

solution/s:

1. 4.

2. 5.

3. 6.

7.
SUBSTITUTION
 SOLVING A SYSTEM BY SUBSTITUTION

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.

First, we choose Then, we substitute the . Finally, we substitute

one of two result into the other this result back into
equations in a equation and solve the the results of the
system and resulting linear first step to find the
solve for one equation in one second variable.
variable in terms variable.
of the other.
SOLVING A SYSTEM BY SUBSTITUTION

Solve by substitution:
SOLVING A SYSTEM BY SUBSTITUTION

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 (divide 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)
2x = 4 (add 12 to both sides)
x=2 (divide both sides by 2)
SOLVING A SYSTEM BY SUBSTITUTION

Example cont’d
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 solution of the system is (2, 0).

SOLVING A SYSTEM BY SUBSTITUTION

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 the
first equation)
6x – 6x + 8 = 4 (use distributive property)
8=4 (simplify the left side)
SOLVING A SYSTEM BY SUBSTITUTION

Example cont’d

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.
ACTIVITY NO. 2

Solve each of the following systems by substitution and determine the

solution/s:

1. 3.

2. 4.
ELIMINATION
BY ADDITION
 SOLVING A SYSTEM BY ADDITION, ARITHMETIC OR ELIMINATION
You multiply both equations by numbers that will allow you to
combine the two equations and eliminate one of the variables.

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.
SOLVING A SYSTEM BY ELIMINATION

Solve by elimination:
SOLVING A SYSTEM BY ELIMINATION

Solve by elimination (cont’d):

SOLVING A SYSTEM BY ELIMINATION

Example

Solve the following system of equations using the elimination method.

6x – 3y = –3 and 4x + 5y = –9

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)
12x + 15y = –27 (use the distributive property)
SOLVING A SYSTEM BY ELIMINATION

Example cont’d
Combine the two resulting equations (eliminating the variable y).

30x – 15y = –15

12x + 15y = –27
42x = –42
x = –1 (divide both sides by 42)
SOLVING A SYSTEM BY ELIMINATION

Example cont’d
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).

SOLVING A SYSTEM BY ELIMINATION

Example cont’d
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).

ACTIVITY NO. 3

Solve each of the following systems by elimination by addition and

determine the solution/s:

1. 3.

2. 4.
 "Process improvement
programs are like teaching
people how to fish. Strategy
maps and scorecards teach
people where to fish.”
— Robert S. Kaplan
Thanks!
Does anyone have any questions?

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