UNIT 4- Equations and Inequalities 1

Unit 4- Equations, Inequalities & Systems.

INDEX
Page
1. Linear Equations .................................................................. 2
2. Quadratic Equations .......................................................... 3
3. Other Equations .................................................................. 4
4. Systems of Equations in two Variables ........................ 6
5. Non-Linear Systems of Equations .................................. 10
6. Inequalities .......................................................................... 11
UNIT 4- Equations and Inequalities 2

1. Linear Equations.
An equation is a number sentence that says that the expressions on
either side of the equals sign, =, represent the same number.

Linear equations are also called first degree equations because the
highest exponent of the variable is 1.
The standard form is ax + b = 0.
To solve a first-degree equation, we use the following steps:
1st – Remove parentheses, if they occur.
 x  1 3( x  5) 2(11  x)
  6
6 12 9
 x  1 3 x  15 22  2 x
  6
6 12 9

2nd – Remove denominators, if they occur. For this purpose we are

going to multiply both sides by the LCD (least common denominator)
In our example, LCD (6, 12, 9) = 36
36( x  1) 36(3 x  15) 36(22  2 x)
   36  6
6 12 9
6( x  1)  3(3 x  15)  4(22  2 x)  216

 6x  6  9x  45  88  8x  216

3rd – Move the variable terms to one side and all other terms to the
other side.
 6x  9x  8x  88  216  6  45
4th – Simplify by collecting like terms.
 7 x  77
5th – Solve for x.
 77
x  11
7
6th – Check your solution.
 11  1 3(11  5) 2(11  11)
  6
6 12 9
 12 48
  06
6 12
 2  4  6
 6  6 Our solution is correct.
UNIT 4- Equations and Inequalities 3

CAUTION! Sometimes it’s useful to change the order of the previous steps.
With practice and common sense you’ll know what to do in each case.
Solve:
3 x  1  (2 x  1)  1  ( x  2)  3

3( x  2) x  1 2( x  1) 37
  
2 5 5 10

2. Quadratic Equations.
Also known as second degree equations because the highest exponent is 2.
The standard form of a quadratic equation is:
ax2  bx  c  0, where a  0

• STANDARD EQUATIONS: When b≠ 0 and c ≠ 0 the equation is

solved with the quadratic formula:

 b  b 2  4ac
x
2a

Example: x  x  2  0
2

 1  12  4 1(2)  1  1  8 1  3 x1  2 and x2  1
x  
2 1 2 2
• INCOMPLETE EQUATIONS: If b= 0 or c= 0 we don’t have to use
the quadratic formula.

If b = 0 then the equation would be ax  c  0 and so, we just

2

have to solve for x2.

c c c
x2    x1   , x2   
a a a

Example: 5 x 2  45  0

45
x2   9  x1  9  3, x2   9  3
5

If c = 0 then the equation would be ax  bx  0 and so, we just

2

have to factor the polynomial.

b
ax 2  bx  0  x(ax  b)  0  x1  0, x2  
a
UNIT 4- Equations and Inequalities 4

Example: 3 x 2  21x  0
21
x(3 x  21)  0  x1  0, x2  7
3
2.1. NUMBER OF SOLUTIONS.
 b  b 2  4ac
x
2a

We saw in the previous examples that there were two solutions. But, is it
always like that?
NOPE! It all depends on the radicand, which is called the discriminant:

> 0, there are two solutions.

If the discriminant is = 0, there is only one solution.

< 0, there are no solutions.

Solve: x 2  x  6  0

9x2  6x 1  0

5x2  7 x  3  0

3. Other Equations.
3.1. BIQUADRATIC EQUATIONS.
They are fourth degree equations where there is no term with an odd
degree.
ax 4  bx 2  c  0
To solve them, let’s make x2 = z, and so, x4 = z2.
This way, we get a quadratic equation.

ax 4  bx 2  c  0

x2  z
x4  z 2

az 2  bz  c  0
Therefore, first we have to solve the quadratic equation to get the values
of z, and then we must get the corresponding values of x.

x z
Example: x 4  13x 2  36  0

x 4  13x 2  36  0
x2  z z 2  13z  36  0
UNIT 4- Equations and Inequalities 5

13  169  144 13  5  z  9  x  3
z  
2 2  z  4  x  2
3.2. EQUATIONS WITH X IN THE DENOMINATOR.
To remove the denominators we have to multiply by the product of them all,
or better, by the least common denominator (LCD).
CAUTION! In the process of resolution false solutions might come up.
Therefore, we must check all the solutions.

1 1 3
Example:  
x x  3 10

We multiply both sides of the equal sign by 10x( x  3)

10 x( x  3) 10 x( x  3) 3 10 x( x  3)
 
x x3 10
Simplifying,

10( x  3)  10 x  3 x( x  3)  10x  30  10x  3 x 2  9 x  3x 2  9 x  30  0 

 3  9  40  3  7
x 2  3 x  10  0  x  
2 2
There are two solutions, x1  2, x2  5
Finally, we check the solutions in the original equation:

1 1 52 3 1 1 1 1 3
      
2 23 10 10 5 53 5 2 10

So, in this example, both solutions are true.

Solve: x  2 x  3
x 1 x 1

3.3. EQUATIONS WITH RADICALS.

To remove the radicals, first we isolate them in one side and them we raise
the two sides to the right power.
CAUTION! In the process of resolution false solutions might come up, too.
Therefore, we must check all the solutions.

Example: x2  7  2  2x

Isolate the radical

x2  7  2  2x  x2  7  2x  2

Raise both sides to the second power.

( x 2  7 ) 2  ( 2 x  2) 2  x 2  7  4 x 2  8 x  4
Simplify by collecting like terms,
x 2  7  4 x 2  8 x  4  3x 2  8 x  3  0
UNIT 4- Equations and Inequalities 6

Solve the quadratic equation,

8  64  36 8  10 1
x   x1  3, x2  
6 6 3
Finally, we check both solutions in the original equation,

32  7  2  2  3  16  2  6 x1 = 3 is a true solution.

64 8 14
( 1 ) 2  7  2  2 2
3 9 3 3 x2 = -1/3 is a false solution.
2
2(  1 )  
3 3

Solve: x4  6 x  2

3.4. FACTORIZED EQUATIONS.

Their standard form is (…)·(…)·(…) = 0
Therefore, to solve them we just have to make each term equal to 0.
Example: ( x  2)  ( x  4)  (2 x  5)  0
x  2  0  x  2
 1

( x  2)  ( x  4)  (2 x  5)  0   x  4  0  x2  4

2 x  5  0  x3  5
 2
Solve: x 3  5 x 2  4 x  0

4. Systems of Equations in two Variables.

A system of equations is a collection of two or more equations with a same
set of unknowns.
In solving a system of equations, we try to find values for each of the
unknowns that will satisfy every equation in the system. Therefore, a
solution of a system in two variables is an ordered pair that makes BOTH
equations true.
You have already seen three methods to solve systems of equations in two
variables:

 SUBSTITUTION
 ELIMINATION
 EQUATING

Besides, this year we’ll see that systems of equations can also be solved
graphically.
UNIT 4- Equations and Inequalities 7

4.1. SUBSTITUTION METHOD.

Example: 3x  2 y  7

5x  y  16
Solve for y in the second equation:
y  5 x  16

Substitute 5x 16 for y in the first equation:

3 x  2(5 x  16)  7
Solve the new equation:
3x 10x  32  7 13x  39  x  3
Substitute.
y  5  3  16  y  1

Solutions: x  3, y  1 or (3,-1)
Let’s solve the same system graphically:
3x  2 y  7

5x  y  16
1.- Graph the first equation.
To do this, remember how to graph a linear equation:
Step 1: Find two (at least) ordered pair solutions.
You do so by plugging in ANY two values for x and find their
corresponding y values.
In our example:
x 1 -1
y 2 5
Step 2: Plot the points in the
coordinate axis.
(1, 2) and (-1, 5)
Step 3: Draw the graph

2.- Graph the second equation.

Again, we follow the three steps:
Step 1: Find two (at least)
ordered pair solutions.
In our example:
x 2 4
y -6 4
UNIT 4- Equations and Inequalities 8

Step 2: Plot the points in the coordinate axis.

(2, -6) and (4, 4)
Step 3: Draw the graph.
3.- Find the solution.
• If the two lines intersect at one place, then the point of
intersection is the solution to the system.
Systems with one solution are known as consistent determinate
systems.
• If the two lines are parallel, then they never intersect, so there is
no solution.
Systems with no solution are called inconsistent systems.
• If the two lines lie on top of each other, then they are the same
line and you have an infinite number of solutions.
Systems with infinite solutions are known as consistent
indeterminate systems.

4.2. ELIMINATION METHOD.

Example: 6 x  5 y  3

3x  2 y  12
This method works when one variable from both equations has the same
coefficient in both equations, or the coefficients are multiples of one
another.
First, if needed, multiply one of the equations by a constant so that there
is one variable in each equation that has the same coefficient.
In our example we multiply the second equation by 2 to make the
coefficients of the x equal:
2(3 x  2 y )  2 12  6 x  4 y  24
UNIT 4- Equations and Inequalities 9

Thus, we get:
6 x  5 y  3

6 x  4 y  24
Then, we subtract the second equation from the first one.
 6 x  5 y  3

 6 x  4 y  24
 9 y  27  y  3
We substitute 3 for y in one of the initial equations.
6x  5  3  3  6x  3 15  6x  12  x  2
Solution: x  2, y  3 or (2,3)
6 x  5 y  3
Solve the same system graphically: 
3x  2 y  12

4.3. ¨EQUATING¨ METHOD.

Example: 3x  5 y  1

 x  2 y  15
First solve for the same unknown in both equations:
 5y 1
3x  5 y  1  x 
 3
 x  2 y  15  x  2 y  15
Then, equate both equations:
5y 1
 2 y  15
3
Finally, solve the equation:
5y 1
 2 y  15  5 y  1  6 y  45 
3
44
5 y  1  6 y  45  5 y  6 y  45  1  11y  44 y4
11
Once we have one of the unknowns, we just have to substitute to get the
other one.
x  2 y  15  x  2  4  15  x  8  15  7

So, the solution is x = 7, y = 4 or (7, 4)

Now, solve the same system graphically: 3x  5 y  1


 x  2 y  15
UNIT 4- Equations and Inequalities 10

5. Non-Linear Systems of Equations.

A system of equations is non-linear when at least one of the equations is
non-linear.
The most common methods to solve these systems are substitution and
elimination.
Example1: Substitution method
y  x 1
 2
x  y  5
2

First solve for y in the first equation: y  x 1

Then, substitute in the second equation:
x 2  ( x  1) 2  5  x 2  x 2  2 x  1  5
Collect like terms:
x2  x2  2x 1  5  2x2  2x  4  0
Solve the quadratic equation: 2 x 2  2 x  4  0
 2  22  4  2  (4)  2  4  32 26
x  x  x1  1, x2  2
22 4 4

If x  1, then y  1  1  2 If x  2, then y  2  1  1

 x  1, y1  2
Solution  1
 x2  2, y2  1
Example 2: Elimination method
 x 2  y 2  58
 2
 x  y 2  40

By adding both equations we get:

 x 2  y 2  58
 2
 x  y 2  40
2x2  98  x 2  49  x  7, x  7
If x  7, then y 2  58  7 2  9  y  3, y  3
If x  7, then y 2  58  (7) 2  9  y  3, y  3

 x1  7, y1  3
 x  7, y  3
 2 2
Solution 
 x3  7, y3  3
 x4  7, y4  3
UNIT 4- Equations and Inequalities 11

6. Inequalities.
An inequality or inequation states that two algebraic expressions are not
equal. They have two sides and, in between them, one of the following signs:
• < (less than)
• ≤ (less than or equal to)
• > (greater than)
• ≥ (greater than or equal to)
Example:  x  4 x  2 x  3
2

Just like with equations, the solution to an inequality is a value that makes
the inequality true.
You can solve inequalities in the same way you can solve equations. However,
you must keep in mind the following rule:
If you multiply or divide both sides of an inequality by a
negative number, reverse the direction of the inequality sign.

6.1. LINEAR INEQUALITIES.

Solving linear inequalities is very similar to solving linear equations, except
for one detail: you flip the inequality sign whenever you multiply or divide
the inequality by a negative.
Let’s see this with an example: 7  5x  12

 2x  7 
x
3 6.2.
2 QUADR
ATIC INEQUALITIES.
When we have an inequality with "x2" as the highest-degree term, it is
called a quadratic inequality.
Let’s explain with an example how to solve them:
 x2  4x  2x  3
First simplify:
 x2  4x  2x  3  x2  2x  3  0  x2  2x  3  0

Next solve as in a quadratic equation:

 x  1
x2  2x  3  0   1
 x2  3
UNIT 4- Equations and Inequalities 12

Then, plot the solutions on the number line:

There are three intervals.

Choose one number for each interval and check if that number makes the
inequality true.

For instance, let’s choose -2, 0 and 4

Let’s check:
x 2  2 x  3  0  (2) 2  2  2  3  0  5  0  NO
x 2  2 x  3  0  (0) 2  2  0  3  0  3  0  YES
x 2  2 x  3  0  4 2  2  4  3  0  5  0  NO

Summarizing:

Therefore, the right solution lies on the interval (-1, 3).

Solve: x 2  3 x  2  4 x  8