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Two Variable Linear Equation

A linear equation contains variables raised to the first power only. A system of linear equations seeks values that satisfy all equations simultaneously. There are three main methods to solve systems of two linear equations: substitution, elimination, and comparing coefficients. Systems can have a single solution, infinitely many solutions, or no solution depending on the equations. Word problems can also be modeled with systems of linear equations.

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58 views3 pages

Two Variable Linear Equation

A linear equation contains variables raised to the first power only. A system of linear equations seeks values that satisfy all equations simultaneously. There are three main methods to solve systems of two linear equations: substitution, elimination, and comparing coefficients. Systems can have a single solution, infinitely many solutions, or no solution depending on the equations. Word problems can also be modeled with systems of linear equations.

Uploaded by

Edel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Redefining linear equations

In a linear equation, each term that contains a variable only has one variable in it, and the
variable is only raised to the first power.
Why is a two variable linear equation have infinitely many solutions?
Suppose we have Ax+ By=C , where A , B and C are constants and A and B are not both
zero. The solutions to this equation are represented by an ordered pair of number ( x , y ).
− Ax
If we express y in terms of x , then we have y= +C . The solutions therefore take the
B
Ax
form ( x ,− +C ). We can see that for every x value we choose, there is a corresponding
B
−Ax
value of +C . That’s why there are infinitely many ordered pair that can satisfy our
B
original equation.
What is a system of equations?
In a system of equations, we seek values of the variable that satisfies all the equation in
the system at the same time.
Method on solving two variable linear equation
Method of substitution

 In this method, we usually express one variable in terms of the other, then
substitute what we get to the other equation. If possible, we would like to avoid
dealing with fractions. However, we will sometimes find a shorter solution if we
substitute for the constant, as shown in the following example. Solve the system:
13 x+17 y=119 , 11 x+19 y =119. If we substitute for the constant, we will get x= y .
119
We then substitute this back to any of our original equations and get x= y = .
30
Method of elimination

 We multiply one or both equation in the system by different constants such that
when we add the two equation, we eliminate one variable. The resulting equation
then is simplified to get the value of the variable. We substitute this value back
into any of the original equation to get the value of the other variable.
Systems with no solution

 If we apply any of the previous methods in solving systems consisting of two


variable linear equation and as a result get a false equation, then the system has
no solution. The reasoning is the same as that of one variable linear equation.
Systems with infinitely many solution

 If we instead get an equation that is always true no matter what the value of the
variable is, then the system has infinitely many solution.
Nature of solutions of system of two variable linear equation
Word problems

 Age problems

 Digit problems
Suppose that we have a two digit number whose tens and ones digit is x and y ,
respectively. The number then is equal to the expression 10 x+ y . We can extend this to
numbers containing 3 or more digits.
 Money problems
Miscellaneous equation
1 1
 Systems of equation involving +
x y
1 1
- We solve this system by proper substitution of the expressions and . We have to be
x y
careful because x and y are not allowed to be 0 in this problems. This problem have
several forms, as shown in the following example.

One would probably first think of eliminating denominators. But we distribute and divide
3 4 2 7
instead. Doing this we will have the equations − =−8 and + =43. Solving this
y x y x
1 1
equation, we have x= and y=
5 4
 Systems of equation involving radicals
- Again, proper substitution is the main recipe to solve this type of problem. Just like the
previous type, this system has a pitfall. If we make a substitution like r =√ x , then r
cannot be negative.
More variables
We can solve systems of linear equation consisting of 3 or more variables by simply
applying the method of elimination and substitution.
Comparing coefficients of linear equation

If ax +b=cx +d for all x , then a=c and b=d


- The proof of this theorem is simple but the method use is worth remembering. If
the two expressions are equal for all x , then we substitute for x , a value that at
least will eliminate some of the variable. If x=0 , then b=d . Back substitute this to
our original equation, we will get a=c .
Special problems

 Problems that require trying some value

 Finding the value of a whole expression

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