Chapter 2

Systems of Linear
Equations

© Pearson Education Limited 2012

 Chapter 2
Systems of Linear Equations

© Pearson Education Limited 2012

 Chapter Outline

2.1 Solution of 2x2 systems

2.2 Solution of 3x2 systems

2.3 Solution of 3x3 systems

 System of Linear Equations
2.1 2 x 2 Systems: (2 equations in 2
variables)
System of two linear equations in two variables can be
represented as a1 x  b 1 y  c1 a1 , b 1 , c1 , a2 , b 2 , c2  R
a2 x  b 2 y  c2
A solution of a system of equations in two variables x and y is
an ordered pair of numbers (x,y), all resulting equations in the
system are true.
The solution set of a system of equations is the set of all
solutions of the system.
There are 3 ways of solving system of linear
equations
1) Graphical method
2) Substitution method
3) Elimination method
Example: Verifying Solution
Verify that the ordered pair (3, 1) is the solution
2x  y  5
of the system of linear equations 
 x  2y  5
Solution:
Replace x by 3 and y by 1.
2x  y  5 x  2y  5
2 3  1  5 3  2 1  5
6 1  5P 3  2  5P
(3,1) satisfies both equations, so it is the solution.
 You can use the Addition and Subtraction Properties of
Equality to solve a system by using the elimination method.
Step 1. Decide which variable you wish to eliminate.
Step 2. Multiply each equation by a number that will make
the coefficients of the chosen variable the same in value
but opposite in sign.
Step 3. Add the two new equations together. This eliminates
your chosen variable.
Step 4. Solve for the remaining variable in this new equation.
Step 5. Substitute this value for the variable back into one of the
original equations. This is called back substitution.
 EXAMPLE Solve by elimination

Solve by elimination. 5x – 6y = – 32
3x + 6y = 48
Step 1-2-3 – Eliminate y because the sum of the coefficients of y
is zero. 5x – 6y = – 32
3x + 6y = 48
8x = 16
Step 4 8x = 16  x = 2
Step 5 – Solve for the eliminated variable y using either of the
original equations. 3x + 6y = 48
3(2) + 6y = 48
6 + 6y = 48
6y = 42  y = 7.
Since x = 2 and y = 7, the solution is (2 , 7).
CHECK5(2) – 6(7) = – 32
10 – 42 = – 32
– 32 = – 32
 EXAMPLE Solve by elimination

Solve by the elimination. 2x + 5y = – 22

10x + 3y = 22
Solution: Step1 Eliminate one variable. Start with the given system.
2x + 5y = – 22
10x + 3y = 22
Step2 To prepare for eliminating x, multiply the first equation by 5.
– 5 (2x + 5y = – 22)
Step3 Subtract the equations to eliminate x. –10x – 25y = 110
10x + 3y = 22
– 22y = 132
Step 4 – Solve for y. – 22y = 132
y=–6
Step 5 – Solve for the eliminated variable using either of the original
equations. 2x + 5y = – 22
2x + 5(– 6 ) = – 22
2x – 30 = – 22
2x = 8  x = 4 The solution is (4 , – 6).
 EXAMPLE Solve by elimination

Solve by the elimination 4x + 2y = 14

7x – 3y = – 8
Solution:Step 1 Eliminate one variable. Start with the given system.
4x + 2y = 14
7x – 3y = – 8
Step2 To prepare for eliminating y, multiply the first equation by 3 and
the other equation by 2. 3(4x + 2y = 14)
2(7x – 3y = -8)
Step3 Add the equations to eliminate y. 12x + 6y = 42
14x – 6y = -16
26x = 26

Step 4 Solve for x. 26x = 26  x = 1

Step 5 Solve for the eliminated variable y using either of the original
equations. 4x + 2y = 14
4(1) + 2y = 14
4 + 2y = 14
2y = 10  y = 5 The solution is (1 , 5).
 EXAMPLE Solve by elimination

Solve by the elimination method:

x + 3y = 2
3x + 9y = 6
Solution:
1. Let's eliminate y
2. Multiply equation the first equation by −3
−3x − 9y = −6
3x + 9y = 6
3. Add the two equations together:
0=0
This is always true so the system is dependent. There are
infinitely many solutions.
We have to find two of the solutions
If y = 1 then 𝑥 = −1. One of the solution is (– 1,1)
If y = −2 then 𝑥 = 8. One of the solution is (8, – 2)
EXAMPLE Solve by elimination

Solve by the elimination method:

2x + 4y = 3
3x + 6y = 8
1. Let's eliminate x.
2. Multiply equation 1 by – 3 and multiply equation 2
by 2
−6x − 12y = −9
6x + 12y = 16
3. Add the two equations together:
0 = 7 ??
This is a contradiction.
There is no solution!
2.2 3 x 2 Systems (3 equations in 2 variables)
EXAMPLE Using the Elimination method

Solve the system.

3 x  2 y  5 (1)

 2 x  y  3 (2)
 4 x  8 y  4 (3)

Solution
Step 1 First, solve the 2 x 2 system; (1) and (2)

Step 2
3x  2 y  5
4 x  2 y  6
Step 3 x 1
Step 4 Back-substitute x 1 in equation (1).

3x  2 y  5
3 1  2 y  5
2 y  5  3  2
y  1
Step 5 Substitute into eq. (3)
4 x  8 y  4
4 1  8  1  4
 4  4

Step 6 So, 1, 1 is the solution of this system

 EXAMPLE Using the Elimination method

Solve the system. 2 x  4 y  2 (1)


 4 x  6 y  18 (2)
 x  y  5 (3)

Solution
Step 1 Select the variable x for elimination eq(1) and eq(2).

Step 2
4 x  8 y  4
4 x  6 y  18

Step 3 y 1
Step 4 Back-substitute y 1 in equation (1).

2x  4 y  2
2 x  4 1  2
x3

Step 5 Substitute into eq. (3)

x y 5
3 1  5
45

Step 6 So, this system has no solution.

2.3 3 x 3 Systems (3 equations in 3 unknowns)
Definitions
A linear system of the form;
a1 x  a2 y  a3 z  d1
b1 x  b2 y  b3 z  d 2
c1 x  c2 y  c3 z  d3
is called a 3x3 linear system (3 equations in 3 variables),
where the coefficients a1, a2, a3, b1, b2, b3 ,c1, c2, c3, d1, d2, d3 are
real numbers.

An ordered triple (a, b, c) is a solution of a system of three

equations in three variables x, y, and z if each equation in the
system is a true statement when a, b, and c are substituted for
x, y, and z, respectively.
Example:
Solve the system;
2𝑥 + 3𝑦 + 𝑧 = 1
3𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 3𝑧 = 2
−𝑥 + 5𝑦 + 8𝑧 = −5

Use first equation to write z in terms of the other

2 variables.

That is; 𝑧 = 1 − 2𝑥 − 3𝑦

Substitute into second equation,

.

3𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 3(1 − 2𝑥 − 3𝑦) = 2

3𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 3 + 6𝑥 + 9𝑦 = 2

9𝑥 + 11𝑦 = 5 (1)
Substitute 𝑧 = 1 − 2𝑥 − 3𝑦, into third equation.
−𝑥 + 5𝑦 + 8 1 − 2𝑥 − 3𝑦 = −5
−𝑥 + 5𝑦 + 8 − 16𝑥 − 24𝑦 = −5
−17𝑥 − 19𝑦 = −13 2

Now, combining (1) and (2) we have the

following 2 x 2 system.
9𝑥 + 11𝑦 = 5
−17𝑥 − 19𝑦 = −13

To eliminate x, 17 9𝑥 + 11𝑦 = 5
9(−17𝑥 − 19𝑦 = −13)
We have,
153𝑥 + 187𝑦 = 85
−153𝑥 − 171𝑦 = −117

16y = – 32 y=–2
Substitute y = – 2 into first equation,
9𝑥 + 11(−2) = 5
9𝑥 − 22 = 5
9𝑥 = 27
𝑥=3
By back substitution x = 3 and y = – 2 into z,

𝑧 = 1 − 2𝑥 − 3𝑦

𝑧 = 1 − 2(3) − 3(−2)

=1 −6+6

z=1

Therefore, the solution is 3, −2, 1 .

 EXAMPLE

Solve the system.  3 x  2 y  z  7 (1)


  x  3 y  4 z  7 (2)
6 x  4 y  2 z  10 (3)

Solution
Step 1 From eq.(1) z  7  3 x  2 y . By substitution,
Step 2 Substitute z  7  3 x  2 y into the eq.(2)

 x  3 y  4  7  3 x  2 y   7
 x  3 y  28  12 x  8 y  7
13 x  11 y  33
Step 3 Substitute z  7  3 x  2 y into the eq.(3)

6 x  4 y  2  7  3 x  2 y   10
6 x  4 y  14  6 x  4 y  10
14  10

Step 4 So, this system has no solution.

Example:
Solve the system;
3x+2y+5z=1
4x-5y+3z=1
x +3y+2z=2
Substitute 𝑥 = 2 − 3𝑦 − 2𝑧, into second
equation.
4 2 − 3𝑦 − 2𝑧 − 5𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 1
−17𝑦 − 5𝑧 = −7 2

Now, combining (1) and (2) we have the

following 2 x 2 system

−7y − 𝑧 = −5
−17𝑦 − 5𝑧 = −7
To eliminate z, –5 −7𝑦 − 𝑧 = −5
−17𝑦 − 5𝑧 = −7

35𝑦 + 5𝑧 = 25
−17𝑦 − 5𝑧 = −7

18𝑦 = 18
𝑦=1

Substitute 𝑦 = 1 into first equation,

35 1 + 5𝑧 = 25
5𝑧 = −10
𝑧 = −2
 EXAMPLE

Solve the system.  x  y  2 z  1 (1)


 3x  4 y  z  4 (2)
2 x  2 y  4 z  2
 (3)
Solution
Step 1 From eq(1) x  y  2 z  1 . By substitution,
Step 2 Substitute x  y  2 z  1 into the eq.(2)

3  y  2 z  1  4 y  z  4
3y  6z  3  4 y  z  4
 y  7z  7
Step 3 Substitute x  y  2z 1 into the eq.(3)

2  y  2 z  1  2 y  4 z  2
2 y  4 z  2  2 y  4 z  2
22
Step 4 So, this system has infinitely many solutions.
Step 5 We need to find two solutions
 y  7z  7 x  y  2z 1

If z = 0, y = – 7 then x = – 7 – 1 = – 8.
One of the solution (– 8, – 7, 0)
If z = – 1, y = 0 then x = 2 – 1 = 1.
Another solution is (1,0,– 1)