CHAPTER – 3

PAIR OF LINEAR EQUATIONS IN TWO VARIABLES

ALGEBRAIC INTERPRETATION OF 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
a b
1. If 1  1 then the pair of linear equations has exactly one solution.
a2 b2
a b c
2. If 1  1  1 then the pair of linear equations has infinitely many solutions.
a2 b2 c2
a b c
3. If 1  1  1 then the pair of linear equations has no solution.
a2 b2 c2

S. No. Pair of lines Compare Graphical Algebraic

the ratios representation interpretation
a1x + b1y + c1 = 0 a1 b1 Intersecting Unique solution (Exactly
1 a2x + b2y + c2 = 0  lines one solution)
a2 b2
a1x + b1y + c1 = 0 a1 b1 c1 Coincident Infinitely many solutions
2 a2x + b2y + c2 = 0   lines
a2 b2 c2
a1x + b1y + c1 = 0 a1 b1 c1 Parallel lines No solution
3 a2x + b2y + c2 = 0  
a2 b2 c2

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

a1 b1 c1
1. On comparing the ratios   , find out whether the lines representing the following pairs
a2 b2 c2
of linear equations intersect at a point, are parallel or coincident:
(i) 5x – 4y + 8 = 0 and 7x + 6y – 9 = 0 (ii) 9x + 3y + 12 = 0 and 18x + 6y + 24 = 0
(iii) 6x – 3y + 10 = 0 and 2x – y + 9 = 0.
a b c
2. On comparing the ratios 1  1  1 , find out whether the following pair of linear equations are
a2 b2 c2
consistent, or inconsistent.
(i) 3x + 2y = 5 ; 2x – 3y = 7 (ii) 2x – 3y = 8 ; 4x – 6y = 9
(iii) 5x – 3y = 11 ; – 10x + 6y = –22
3. Find the number of solutions of the following pair of linear equations:
x + 2y – 8 = 0
2x + 4y = 16
4. Write whether the following pair of linear equations is consistent or not.
x + y = 14, x – y = 4
5. Given the linear equation 3x + 4y – 8 = 0, write another linear equation in two variables such
that the geometrical representation of the pair so formed is parallel lines.
6. Find the value of k so that the following system of equations has no solution:
3x – y – 5 = 0, 6x – 2y + k = 0
7. Find the value of k so that the following system of equation has infinite solutions:
3x – y – 5 = 0, 6x – 2y + k = 0
8. For which values of p, does the pair of equations given below has unique solution?
4x + py + 8 = 0 and 2x + 2y + 2 = 0

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9. Determine k for which the system of equations has infinite solutions:
4x + y = 3 and 8x + 2y = 5k
10. Find whether the lines representing the following pair of linear equations intersect at a point, are
parallel or coincident:
2x – 3y + 6 = 0; 4x – 5y + 2 = 0
11. Find the value of k for which the system 3x + ky = 7, 2x – 5y = 1 will have infinitely many
solutions.
12. For what value of k, the system of equations 2x – ky + 3 = 0, 4x + 6y – 5 = 0 is consistent?
13. For what value of k, the system of equations kx – 3y + 6 = 0, 4x – 6y + 15 = 0 represents parallel
lines?
14. For what value of p, the pair of linear equations 5x + 7y = 10, 2x + 3y = p has a unique solution.
15. Find the value of m for which the pair of linear equations has infinitely many solutions.
2x + 3y – 7 = 0 and (m – 1)x + (m + 1)y = (3m – 1)
16. For what value of p will the following pair of linear equations have infinitely many solutions?
(p – 3)x + 3y = p; px + py = 12
17. For what value of k will the system of linear equations has infinite number of solutions?
kx + 4y = k – 4, 16x + ky = k
18. Find the values of a and b for which the following system of linear equations has infinite number
of solutions:
2x – 3y = 7, (a + b) x – (a + b – 3) y = 4a + b
19. For what value of k will the equations x + 2y + 7 = 0, 2x + ky + 14 = 0 represent coincident
lines?
20. For what value of k, the following system of equations 2x + ky = 1, 3x – 5y = 7 has (i) a unique
solution (ii) 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).

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3. If the lines are parallel, then the pair of equations has no solution. In this case, the pair of
equations is inconsistent.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Solve the equation graphically: x + 3y = 6 and

2x – 3y = 12.
Solution: Given that
6 x
x  3y  6  3y  6  x  y 
3
x 0 3 6
y 2 1 0
2 x  12
and 2 x  3 y  12  3 y  2 x  12  y 
3
x 0 3 6
y -4 -2 0
Now plot the points and join the points to form
the lines AB and PQ as shown in graph
Since point B(6, 0) common to both the lines AB
and PQ. Therefore, the solution of the pair of
linear equations is x = 6 and y = 0
Questions for Practice
1. Determine by drawing graphs, whether the following pair of linear equations has a unique
solution or not: 3x + 4y = 12; y = 2
2. Determine by drawing graphs, whether the following pair of linear equations has a unique
solution or not: 2x – 5 = 0, y + 4 = 0.
3. Draw the graphs of the equations 4x – y – 8 = 0 and 2x – 3y + 6 = 0.
Also, determine the vertices of the triangle formed by the lines and x-axis.
4. Solve the following system of linear equations graphically:3x – 2y – 1 = 0; 2x – 3y + 6 = 0.
Shade the region bounded by the lines and x-axis.
5. Solve graphically: x + 4y = 10, y – 2 = 0
6. Solve graphically: 2x – 3y = 6, x – 6 = 0
7. Solve the following system of equations graphically: 3x – 5y + 1 = 0, 2x – y + 3 = 0.
Also find the points where the lines represented by the given equations intersect the x-axis.
8. Solve the following system of equations graphically: x – 5y = 6, 2x – 10y = 10
Also find the points where the lines represented by the given equations intersect the x-axis.
9. Solve the following pair of linear equations graphically: x + 3y = 6; 2x – 3y = 12
Also find the area of the triangle formed by the lines representing the given equations with y-
axis.

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MCQ QUESTIONS (1 mark)

1. The pair of equations y = 0 and y = –7 has

(a) one solution (b) two solution (c) infinitely many solutions (d) no solution

2. The pair of equations x = a and y = b graphically represents the lines which are
(a) parallel (b) intersecting at (a, b)
(c) coincident (d) intersecting at (b, a)

3. The value of c for which the pair of equations cx – y = 2 and 6x – 2y = 3 will have no solution
is
(a) 3 (b) – 3 (c) – 12 (d) no value

4. The pair of equations 5x – 15y = 8 and 3x – 9y = 24/5 has

(a) infinite number of solutions (b) unique solution
(c) no solution (d) one solution

5. The pair of equations x + 2y + 5 = 0 and –3x – 6y + 1 = 0 have

(a) infinite number of solutions (b) unique solution
(c) no solution (d) one solution

6. The sum of the digits of a two digit number is 9. If 27 is added to it, the digits of the numbers
get reversed. The number is
(a) 36 (b) 72 (c) 63 (d) 25

16
7. The pair of equations 3x + 4y = 18 and 4x + y = 24 has
3
(a) infinite number of solutions (b) unique solution
(c) no solution (d) cannot say anything

9
8. If the pair of equations 2x + 3y = 7 and kx + y = 12 have no solution, then the value of k is:
2
2 3
(a) (b) – 3 (c) 3 (d)
3 2

9. If bx + ay = a2 + b2 and ax – by = 0, then the value of x – y equals:

(a) a – b (b) b – a (c) a2 – b2 (d) b2 + a2.

10. If 2x + 3y = 0 and 4x – 3y = 0, then x + y equals:

(a) 0 (b) – 1 (c) 1 (d) 2

11. If a x  b y  b  a and bx  a y  0 , then the value of x, y is:

(a) a + b (b) a – b (c) ab (d)  ab

12. If 31x + 43y = 117 and 43 + 31y = 105, then value of x – y is:
1 1
(a) (b) – 3 (c) 3 (d) 
3 3

13. If 19x – 17y = 55 and 17x – 19y = 53, then the value of x – y is:
1
(a) (b) – 3 (c) 3 (d) 5
3

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14. If (6, k) is a solution of the equation 3x + y – 22 = 0, then the value of k is:
(a) 4 (b) –4 (c) 3 (d) –3

2x
15. If 3x –5y = 1,  4 , then the value of x + y is
x y
1 1
(a) (b) – 3 (c) 3 (d) 
3 3

16. If 3x + 2y = 13 and 3x – 2y = 5, then the value of x + y is:

(a) 5 (b) 3 (c) 7 (d) none of these

15
17. If the pair of equations 2x + 3y = 5 and 5x + y = k represent two coincident lines, then the
2
value of k is:
25 25 5
(a) –5 (b) (c) (d)
2 2 2

18. If x = a, y = b is the solution of the equations x – y = 2 and x + y = 4, then the values of a and b
are, respectively
(a) 3 and 5 (b) 5 and 3 (c) 3 and 1 (d) –1 and –3

19. Aruna has only Re 1 and Rs 2 coins with her. If the total number of coins that she has is 50 and
the amount of money with her is Rs 75, then the number of Re 1 and Rs 2 coins are,
respectively
(a) 35 and 15 (b) 35 and 20 (c) 15 and 35 (d) 25 and 25

20. The father’s age is six times his son’s age. Four years hence, the age of the father will be four
times his son’s age. The present ages, in years, of the son and the father are, respectively
(a) 4 and 24 (b) 5 and 30 (c) 6 and 36 (d) 3 and 24

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