PAIR OF
LINEAR
EQUATIONS
IN TWO
VARIABLES
Objectives
DEFINITION
METHOD TO SOLVE A PAIR OF LINEAR EQUATIONS OF TWO
VARIABLES
CONSISTENT SYSTEM & INCONSISTENT SYSTEM
GRAPHICAL METHOD OF SOLUTION OF A PAIR OF LINEAR
EQUATIONS
Algebraic interpretation of a pair of linear equations in two variables
ALGEBRAIC METHODS OF SOLVING A PAIR OF LINEAR EQUATIONS
Definition
An equation of the form ax + by + c = 0, where a, b and c are real numbers ( a ¹ 0, b ¹ 0 ), is called a
linear equation in two variables x and y.
The numbers a and b are called the coefficients of the equation ax + by + c = 0 and the number c
is called the constant of the equation ax + by + c = 0.
Two linear equations in the same two variables are called a pair of linear equations in two variables.
The most general form of a pair of linear equations is
a1 x + b1 y + c 1 = 0
a2 x + b2 y + c 2 = 0
where a1, a2, b1, b2, c1, c2 are real numbers, such that a12 + b12 ≠ 0, a22 + b22 ≠ 0.
METHOD TO SOLVE A PAIR OF LINEAR
EQUATIONS OF TWO VARIABLES
A pair of linear equations in two variables can be represented, and
solved, by the:
(i)graphical method (ii) algebraic method
CONSISTENT SYSTEM
A system of simultaneous linear equations is said to be
consistent if it has at least one solution.
INCONSISTENT SYSTEM
A system of simultaneous linear equations is said to be inconsistent, if
it has no solution.
GRAPHICAL METHOD OF SOLUTION OF A PAIR OF LINEAR
EQUATIONS
The graph of a pair of linear equations in two variables is represented
by two lines.
1. If the lines intersect at a point, then that point gives the unique
solution of the two equations. In this case, the pair of equations is
consistent.
2. If the lines coincide, then there are infinitely many solutions —
each point on the line being a solution. In this case, the pair of
equations is dependent (consistent).
3.If the lines are parallel, then the pair of equations has no solution. In this
case, the pair of equations is inconsistent.
Algebraic interpretation of a pair of
linear equations in two variables
The pair of linear equations represented by these lines a1x + b1y + c1 = 0
and a2x + b2y + c2 = 0
1. If a1/a2 ≠ b1/b2 then the pair of linear equations has exactly one solution.
2. Ifa1/a2 = b1/b2 = c1/c2 then the pair of linear equations has infinitely many
solutions.
3. . If a1/a2 = b1/b2 ≠ c1/c2 then the pair of linear equations has no solutions.
ALGEBRAIC METHODS OF SOLVING A
PAIR OF LINEAR EQUATIONS
Substitution Method
Elimination Method
Cross - Multiplication Method
Substitution Method
Step 1: Find the value of one variable, say y in terms of the other
variable, i.e., x from either equation, whichever is convenient.
Step 2: Substitute this value of y in the other equation, and
reduce it to an equation in one variable, i.e., in terms of x, which
can be solved. You can get statements with no variable. If this
statement is true, you can conclude that the pair of linear
equations has infinitely many solutions. If the statement is false,
then the pair of linear equations is inconsistent.
Step 3: Substitute the value of x (or y) obtained in Step 2 in the
equation used in Step 1 to obtain the value of the other variable.
Solve the following pair of equations by
substitution method: 7x – 15y = 2 …………….. (1)
x + 2y = 3 ………………….(2)
Step 1: We pick either of the equations and write one variable in terms of the
other.
Let us consider the Equation (2) : x + 2y = 3
and write it as x = 3 – 2y ……………………(3)
Step 2: Substitute the value of x in Equation (1).
We get 7(3 – 2y) – 15y = 2
i.e., 21 – 14y – 15y = 2
i.e., – 29y = –19
Therefore, y = 19/ 29
Step 3: Substituting this value of y in Equation (3),
we get x = 3 – 2(19/29) = 49/29
Therefore, the solution is x = 49/29 and y = 19/29
Elimination Method
Step 1: First multiply both the equations by some suitable non-zero constants to
make the coefficients of one variable (either x or y) numerically equal.
Step 2: Then add or subtract one equation from the other so that one variable
gets eliminated. If you get an equation in one variable, go to Step 3.
If in Step 2, we obtain a true statement involving no variable, then the original
pair of equations has infinitely many solutions.
If in Step 2, we obtain a false statement involving no variable, then the original
pair of equations has no solution, i.e., it is inconsistent.
Step 3: Solve the equation in one variable (x or y) so obtained to get its value.
Step 4: Substitute this value of x (or y) in either of the original equations to get
the value of the other variable.
Use the elimination method to find all possible
solutions of the following pair of linear equations:
2x + 3y = 8 ……………….(1)
4x + 6y = 7 ……………….(2)
Solution:
Step 1: Multiply Equation (1) by 2 and Equation (2) by 1 to make the
coefficients of x equal. Then we get the equations :
4x + 6y = 16 ………………….(3)
4x + 6y = 7 …………………..(4)
Step 2: Subtracting Equation (4) from Equation (3),
(4x – 4x) + (6y – 6y) = 16 – 7
i.e., 0 = 9, which is a false statement.
Therefore, the pair of equations has no solution.
Cross - Multiplication Method
Let us now see how this method works for any pair of linear equations in two
variables of the form
a1 x + b1 y + c1 = 0………………. (1)
and a2 x + b2 y + c2 = 0……………….. (2)
To obtain the values of x and y as shown above, we follow the following steps:
Step 1 : Multiply Equation (1) by b2 and Equation (2) by b1 , to get
b2 a1 x + b2 b1 y + b2 c1 = 0 …………(3)
b1 a2 x + b1 b2 y + b1 c2 = 0 …………(4)
Step 2: Subtracting Equation (4) from (3), we get:
(b2 a1 – b1 a2 ) x + (b2 b1 – b1 b2 ) y + (b2 c1 – b1 c2 ) = 0
i.e., (b2 a1 – b1 a2 ) x = b1 c2 – b2 c1
Step 3 : Substituting this value of x in (1) or (2), we get
In remembering the above result, the following diagram may be helpful
to
The arrows between the two numbers indicate that they are to be
multiplied and the second product is to be subtracted from the first.
For solving a pair of linear equations by this method, we will follow
the following steps:
Step 1: Write the given equations in the form (1) and (2).
Step 2: Taking the help of the diagram above, write Equations as
given in (8).
Step 3: Find x and y, provided a1 b2 – a2 b1 ≠ 0
Step 2 above gives you an indication of why this method is called
the cross-multiplication method.
THE END
