INTRODUCTORY MATHEMATICAL

ANALYSIS
For Business, Economics,
and the Life and Social Sciences
Chapter 3
Lines, Parabolas, and Systems

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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

Chapter Objectives
To develop the notion of slope and different forms of
equations of lines.
To develop the notion of demand and supply curves and
to introduce linear functions.
To sketch parabolas arising from quadratic functions.
To solve systems of linear equations in both two and
three variables by using the technique of elimination by
addition or by substitution.
To use substitution to solve nonlinear systems.
To solve systems describing equilibrium and break-even
points.
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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

Chapter Outline
3.1) Lines
3.2) Applications and Linear Functions
3.3) Quadratic Functions
3.4) Systems of Linear Equations
3.5) Nonlinear Systems
3.6) Applications of Systems of Equations

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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.1 Lines
Slope of a Line
The slope of the line for two different points
(x1, y1) and (x2, y2) is
y 2 y1
vertical change

m
x 2 x1 horizontal change

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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.1 Lines

Example 1 Price-Quantity Relationship

The line in the figure shows the relationship

between the price p of a widget (in dollars) and the
quantity q of widgets (in thousands) that consumers
will buy at that price. Find and interpret the slope.

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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.1 Lines
Example 1 Price-Quantity Relationship

Solution:
The slope is
p2 p1 1 4
1
m

q2 q1 8 2
2

Equations of lines
A point-slope form of an equation of the line
through (x1, y1) with slope m is
y 2 y1
m
x 2 x1

y 2 y 1 m x 2 x1
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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.1 Lines

Example 3 Determining a Line from Two Points

Find an equation of the line passing through (3, 8)

and (4, 2).
Solution:
28
10
The line has slope m 4 3 7
Using a point-slope form with (3, 8) gives
10
y 8 x 3
7
7 y 56 10 x 30
10 x 7 y 26 0
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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.1 Lines

The slope-intercept form of an equation of the

line with slope m and y-intercept b is y mx b.
Example 5 Find the Slope and y-intercept of a Line

Find the slope and y-intercept of the line with

equation y = 5(3 2x).
Solution:
Rewrite the equation:

y 5 3 2 x
y 15 10 x
y 10 x 15

The slope is ___ and the y-intercept is ___.

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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.1 Lines

Example 7 Converting Forms of Equations of Lines

a. Find a general linear form of the line whose

slope-intercept form is
2
y x4
3

Solution:
By clearing the fractions, we have
2
xy 40
3
2 x 3 y 12 0

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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.1 Lines
Example 7 Converting Forms of Equations of Lines

b. Find the slope-intercept form of the line having a

general linear form
3x 4y 2 0

Solution:
We solve the given equation for y,
3 x 4y 2 0
4 y 3 x 2
3
1
y x
4
2
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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.1 Lines

Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

Parallel Lines are two lines that have the same
slope.
Perpendicular Lines are two lines with slopes
m1 and m2 perpendicular to each other only if
1
m1
m2

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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.1 Lines

Example 9 Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

The figure shows two lines passing through (3, 2).

One is parallel to the line y = 3x + 1, and the other is
perpendicular to it. Find the equations of these lines.

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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.1 Lines
Example 9 Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

Solution:
The line through (3, 2) that is parallel to y = 3x + 1
also has slope 3. Using a point-slope form:
y 2 3 x 3
y 2 3x 9
y 3 x 11

For the line perpendicular to y = 3x + 1,

1
x 3
3
1
y 2 x 1
3
1
y x 1
3

y 2

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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.2 Applications and Linear Functions

Example 1 Production Levels

Suppose that a manufacturer uses 100 lb of material

to produce products A and B, which require 4 lb and
2 lb of material per unit, respectively.
Solution:
If x and y denote the number of units produced of A
and B, respectively,
4 x 2y 100

where x, y 0

Solving for y gives

y 2 x 50
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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.2 Applications and Linear Functions

Demand and Supply Curves

Demand and supply curves have the following
trends:

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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.2 Applications and Linear Functions

Linear Functions
A function f is a linear function which can be
written as f x ax b where a 0
Example 3 Graphing Linear Functions
15 2t
Graph f x 2 x 1 and g t
.
3

Solution:

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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.2 Applications and Linear Functions

Example 5 Determining a Linear Function

If y = f(x) is a linear function such that f(2) = 6 and

f(1) = 3, find f(x).
Solution:
y2 y1

The slope is m
x2 x1

Using a point-slope form:

y y1 m x x1

y _ __ x ___
y
f x

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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.3 Quadratic Functions

Quadratic function is written as f x ax 2 bx c
where a, b and c are constants and a 0
The graph of the quadratic function is a parabola
If a > 0, the parabola opens upward.
If a < 0, it opens downward.

The vertex is

b
b

, f
2a 2a

The y-intercept is c.

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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.3 Quadratic Functions

Example 1 Graphing a Quadratic Function

f
x

x
4 x 12 .
Graph the quadratic function

Solution: The x-coordinate of the vertex is

b

2a
2

___

b
The y-coordinate is f 2a f __

Thus, the vertex is ( , ). The y-intercept is ___.

The x-intercepts are
0 x 2 4 x 12
0 x 6 x 2
x 6 and 2
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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.3 Quadratic Functions

Example 3 Graphing a Quadratic Function

g
x

x
6 x 7.
Graph the quadratic function

Solution:
b

2a
2

___

g _

___

Thus, the vertex is ( ,

The y-intercept is __.
The x-intercepts are

).

x 3 2
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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.4 Systems of Linear Equations

Two-Variable Systems

There are three different linear systems:

Linear system
(one solution)

Linear system
(no solution)

Linear system
(many solutions)

Two methods to solve simultaneous equations:

a) elimination by addition
b) elimination by substitution
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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.4 Systems of Linear Equations

Example 1 Elimination-by-Addition Method

Use elimination by addition to solve the system.

3 x 4 y 13

3y 2x 3

Solution: Make the y-component the same.

9 x 12y 39

8 x 12y 12

Adding the two equations, we get x 3. Use x 3 to

find y:
9 3 12 y 39
y ___

Thus, the solution is x = __ and y = __.

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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.4 Systems of Linear Equations

Example 3 A Linear System with Infinitely Many Solutions

x 5y 2
1x 5 y 1
2
2

Solve

Solution: Make the x-component the same.

x 5y 2

x 5 y 2

Adding the two equations, we get 0 0 .

The complete solution is

x 2 5r
y r , where r is any real number
one-parameter family of solutions
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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.4 Systems of Linear Equations

Example 5 Solving a Three-Variable Linear System

Solve

2x y z 3

x 2 y 2z 1
x y 3 z 6 x y 3z 6

Solution: By substitution & simplification, we get

3 y 7z 15

y z 5
x y 3z 6

Since y = -5 + z, we can find z = __ and y = __. Thus,

z __

y __
x __

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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.4 Systems of Linear Equations

Example 7 Two-Parameter Family of Solutions

Solve the system

x 2y z 4

2 x 4 y 2z 8

Solution:
Multiply the 2nd equation by -1/2 and add to the 1 st
equation,
x 2y z 4

00

Setting y = r and z = s, the solutions are

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x 4 2r s
y r
z s , r and s are any real numbers
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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.5 Nonlinear Systems

A system of equations with at least one nonlinear

equation is called a nonlinear system.

Example 1 Solving a Nonlinear System

Solve

x 2 2x y 7 0

(1)

3x y 1 0
(2) y 3x 1

Solution: Substitute Eq (3) into (1),

(3)

x 2 2 x 3 x 1 7 0

x2 x 6 0

x 3 x 2 0

x 3 or x 2
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y __ or y __

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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.6 Applications of Systems of Equations

Equilibrium

The point of equilibrium is where demand and

supply curves intersect.

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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.6 Applications of Systems of Equations

Example 1 Tax Effect on Equilibrium

p

8
q 50
100

Let
be the supply equation for a
manufacturers product, and suppose the demand
equation is p 7 q 65.
100

a. If a tax of $1.50 per unit is to be imposed on the

manufacturer, how will the original equilibrium price
be affected if the demand remains the same?
b. Determine the total revenue obtained by the
manufacturer at the equilibrium point both before and
after the tax.
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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.6 Applications of Systems of Equations
Example 1 Tax Effect on Equilibrium

Solution:
a. By substitution,
7
8

q 65
q 50
100
100
q 100

and

8
100 50 58
100

After
8 new tax,
100

7
q 65
100
q 90

q 51.50

8
90 51.50 58.70
p
100

The tax of $1.50 per unit increases the equilibrium

price by $0.70.

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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.6 Applications of Systems of Equations
Example 1 Tax Effect on Equilibrium

Solution:
b. Total revenue given by
After tax,

yTR pq 58 100 5800

yTR pq 58.70 90 5283

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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.6 Applications of Systems of Equations

Break-Even Points

Profit (or loss) = total revenue(TR) total cost(TC)

Total cost = variable cost + fixed cost

yTC yVC y FC

The break-even point is where TR = TC.

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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.6 Applications of Systems of Equations

Example 3 Break-Even Point, Profit, and Loss

A manufacturer sells a product at $8 per unit, selling

all that is produced. Fixed cost is $5000 and variable
cost per unit is 22/9 (dollars).
a. Find the total output and revenue at the break-even
point.
b. Find the profit when 1800 units are produced.
c. Find the loss when 450 units are produced.
d. Find the output required to obtain a profit of
$10,000.
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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.6 Applications of Systems of Equations
Example 3 Break-Even Point, Profit, and Loss

Solution:
a. We have yTR 8q
yTC yVC y FC

At break-even point,

22
q 5000
9

yTR yTC
22
q 5000
9
q 900

8q

and
b.

yTR 8 900 7200

yTR yTC

22

1800 5000 5000

81800
9

The profit is $5000.

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Chapter 3: Lines, Parabolas and Systems

3.6 Applications of Systems of Equations
Example 3 Break-Even Point, Profit, and Loss

Solution:

______

c.
TR
TC

_____

The loss is $_____.

d. Profit = total revenue total cost
22

q 5000
9

10000 8q
50
q
9
q _____

15000

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Thus, ____ units must be produced.

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Tutorial 4 questions:
Problems 3.1: Q72
Problems 3.2: Q28, Q30
Problems 3.3: Q30, Q38
Problems 3.4: Q28, Q34
Problems 3.5: Q16
Problems 3.6: Q14, Q16

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