QUANTITATIVE

METHOD

Lecture 4:
Linear Graphs and Simultaneous Equations
 Scope and Coverage
 This topic will cover:
 Graphs of the form y = mx + c
 Finding the equation of a line
 Solving simultaneous equations graphically
 Solving simultaneous equations algebraically
 Learning Outcomes
 By the end of this topic, students will be able
to:
 Draw a linear graph given an equation
 Understand the terms y-intercept and gradient
 Recognise and find the equation of a graph of the
form y = mx + c
 Solve simultaneous equations both graphically and
algebraically
 Functions
 A function is a rule that receives an input and
produces an output
 We write:
f: x → x + 2 Or f(x) = x + 2
f(x) represents the output
E.g. Given f(x) = 2x + 4,
find f(x) when x = 4 and when x = -2
 Functions and Graphs
 We also often call the output ‘y’ so we can have:
y = 2x + 4
This is an equation.
We then draw graphs of functions.
The input is the x-coordinate
The output is the y-coordinate
 Drawing Graphs
 Draw and label the graph of
y = 2x - 1
Step 1: Find the coordinates for 3 x y
points
-2 -5
Step 2: Draw the axes
Step 3: Plot the points
0 -1
Step 4: Join the points and label the 2 3
line.
 Drawing graphs

-1
2x
Step 2: Draw the axes

y=
x
Step 3: Plot the points
Step 4: Join the points and label
the line.
x
y = 2x – 1 is a linear function.
Linear functions have an x
term only. They do not include
x
x2, x3 or any other powers.
 Parallel Lines
 y = 2x – 1
y = 2x + 3 y = 2x + 1 y = 2x – 3

x 2x - 1 2x + 3 2x + 1 2x - 3
-2 -5 -1 -3 -7
0 -1 3 1 -3
Sketch2these lines
3 on a set
7 of axes.5 What do
1 you notice?
 Gradient
 The graphs of y = 2x + 1, y = 2x – 2 and y = 2x are all
parallel
 They all have a gradient of 2
 Gradient is a measure of the steepness of the graph
 Gradient can be defined as change in y
change in x
i.e. for a graph with gradient 2, for every one
unit across, the graph goes up two 2

1
 y - Intercept
 For the graphs of: y = x + 5, y = 2x + 5 and y=
5x + 5, what does y equal when x = 0?
 When x = 0, y = 5
 Where do the lines cross the y-axis?
 They all cross at +5
 This is called the y-intercept
 Linear graphs are of the form y = mx + c
 c represents the y-intercept
Graphs of the Form y = mx + c
 Just by looking at an equation, you should be able to
sketch the graph from its gradient and y-intercept
 Without drawing, state the gradient and y-intercept
of these graphs:
y = 2x + 4 y = 6x – 2
y = 5 – 2x x+y=6
In a linear graph of the form y = mx + c:
m is the gradient and c is the y-intercept
 Finding Equations
1) A line has a gradient of 3 and passes through the
point (0,4). Write the equation of the line.

y = 3x + 4
2) A line has a gradient of -2 and passes through the
point (2, -1)
y = 3 – 2x
3) A line passes through the point (1,2) and (3,8)
y = 3x - 1
 Perpendicular Lines
 Parallel lines have the same gradient
 The gradients of perpendicular lines have the a product
of -1
 A line perpendicular to a line of gradient m has a
gradient of -1/m
 Line M has an equation y = 2x – 3. What is the gradient
of a line perpendicular to Line M?
 Answer: Gradient = -½
 So y = -½x + 4 is perpendicular to y = 2x - 3
 Solving Equations Using Graphs
 Solve the equation 2x -1

-1
= 3 using the graph

2x
y=
 The solution is at the point
x
where the line y = 2x – 1
crosses the line y = 3
 Reading from the graph, at
this point x = 2 x

x
 Solving Simultaneous Equations
Graphically
 Plot the graphs of y = 2x – 1 and y = 2 – 2x

-1
y

2x
 They cross only once at =
2

y=
–
the point (1,1) 2x
x
 y = 2x – 1 and y = 2 – 2x are
a pair of simultaneous
equations
x
Their solution is x =1, y = 1
The solution is the pair of values
that satisfy both equations
x
 Simultaneous Equations
 Explain why the simultaneous equations y = 3x + 5
and 2y – 6x = 4 have no solution
 Solving Simultaneous Equations
Algebraically
 Simultaneous equations can be solved algebraically
 Solve the simultaneous equations
x + y = 4 and 2x - y = 5.
 x+y=4 A
 2x - y = 5 B
- Label the equations
 3x = 9 -The y terms match and have
 x=3 different signs. Eliminate the y
 3 + y = 4, y = 1 terms by adding the equations.
-Substitute x = 3 into equation A.
Solution: x = 3 and y = 1
 Simultaneous Equations
Solve the simultaneous equations x + y = 3 and 2x + y =
4.
x+y=3 A - Label the equations
2x + y = 4 B -The y terms match and have
the same signs. Eliminate the y
x=1 terms by subtracting the
1+y=3 equations.
y=2 -Substitute x = 1 into equation A.
Solution: x = 1 and y = 2
 Simultaneous Equations
Solve these simultaneous equations.
x + 3y = 10 A
3x + 2y = 16 B - Label the equations
-To make the x terms match
3x + 9y = 30
multiply A by 3.
3x + 2y = 16 - The x terms now match and
7y = 14, y = 2 have the same signs. Eliminate
x + 6 = 10 them by subtracting the
equations.
x=4 -Substitute y = 1 into equation A.
Solution: x = 4 and y = 2
 Recap
 I can draw a linear graph from an equation
 I can recognise the y-intercept and gradient from an
equation
 I can find the equation of a line from a graph
 I can use a graph to solve a linear equation
 I can solve simultaneous equations graphically
 I can solve simultaneous equations algebraically
LECTURE 4 – LINEAR
GRAPHS AND
SIMULTANEOUS
EQUATIONS
Any Questions?