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How to Solve Linear Equations? WAT/GD/PI Prep Book

Posted by: Estallar August 13, 2013

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Equations are the base on which most of the math rests. Though this portion is not given much weightage •••••••••
in CAT but we can see one or two questions from this topic in a few slots directly or the concepts can be
used in other questions. Linear Equation is one in which there are only first powers of the variables. These LOGIN → LOST YOUR PASSWORD?
equations can have one or two or three unknowns and usually two and three variable equations come
under the purview of these exams. Let us see how to solve Linear Equations.
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Single variable equations don’t need much calculation and can be solved directly.
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System of Linear Equations: Equations having two or more than 2 linear equations. The solution to
given system of equation means coordinates of the point of the intersection of the lines. How to get into Top IIMs –
Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta and
Lucknow
General Points for Equations with 2 Variables September 9, 2013

If the lines intersect at a point, they have a unique solution. B School Comparison Series: Colleges
to be covered
If the lines are parallel, it means they have no intersection point and thus No Solution.
March 9, 2014
If both the given equations can be written as E2 = k times E1, then the two lines are the same and
hence, infinite number of solutions exist.
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For Parallel Lines: Slope m1 = m2. Top Colleges
For Perpendicular Lines : Slope m1*m2 = – 1 June 18, 2013

CAT 2013 Experience across Slots: Live Updates

Solving Equations with 2 variables
 October 16, 2013

CMAT September 2013 Results Out!!!

October 20, 2013

Let us now take few questions for better understanding.

1. Find the number of pairs of x and y that satisfy 7x + 3y = 13 and 21x + 9y = 30.

Equations given : 7x + 3y = 13 … (1)

21x + 9y = 30 => 3 (7x + 3y) = 3*10

=> 7x + 3y = 10.

As we can see, same LHS is giving two different values, hence this is not possible. So, No Solution.

Alternatively, we can check the ratio of the coefficients.

a1/a2 = 7/21 = 1/3 which is equal to b1/b2 = 3/9 but c1/c2 is not equal to 1/3 and hence, it has no solution.

2. Find the values of x and y which satisfy 6x + 4y = 14 and 9x + 6y = 21.

Rewriting equations : 6x + 4y = 14 => 3x + 2y = 7

9x + 6y = 21 => 3x + 2y = 7.

Thus, the two given equations are the same. Hence, we cannot find a unique solution to these equations.
So, infinite solutions are there.

Alternatively, we can check the ratios a1/a2 = b1/b2 = c1/c2 = 2/3. Thus, infinite solutions will be the
answer.

Solving 3 variable linear equations

Bholu, Dholu and Golu went to the market to buy Kitkat, Perk and Munch. Bholu bought 6 kitkat,
2 perk and 4 munch for Rs. 32. Dholu bought 5 kitkat, 3 munch and 2 perk for Rs. 27. Golu bought 4
kitkat, 3 perk and 2 munch for Rs. 24.

(a) Find the cost of 4 kitkat and 6 perk.

(b) Find the cost each of kitkat, perk and munch.

We first need to write the equations for these.

6K + 2P + 4M = 32 …. (i)

5K + 2P + 3M = 27 …. (ii)

4K + 3P + 2M = 24 …. (iii)

For part a, we don’t need to find the values of K, P or M. Such questions can be solved by multiplying
equations with different constants and adding/subtracting accordingly.

Here, we need the value of 4K + 6P and so, multiplying eq. 2 by 4, eq. 3 by 2 and eq. 1 by 4 and then adding
eq. 2 and 3 and subtracting eq. 1 from it will give the answer.

=> (20+8)K + (8+6)P + (12+4)M = 108 + 48 = 156

And equation 1 will be : 24K + 8P + 16M = 132

Subtracting, we get – 4K + 6P = Rs. 24

For part B, we can use substitution or elimination method.

For substitution method, find value of M from any one equation and substitute in the other two.

For elimination method, one can multiply two pair of equations by suitable constants to eliminate M. Thus,
2 equations in 2 variables will be obtained and hence, values of K, P and M can be found out.

Note worthy points

1. If number of equations is less than the number of variables, we usually get indeterminate system of
equations.

For ex. 3x + y – 2z = 10 and x + 2y + z = 8.

2. Sometimes, we can determine the value of one variable in case of indeterminate equations.

For ex. X + 2y + 4z = 15 and 3x + 6y + 5z = 21.

3. At times, one can find solution for a specific combination of variables.

4. Dependent Equations: E3 = k1(E1) + k2(E2) OR E3 = E1 + k(E2) where E denotes the equation and k1 and
k2 are constants. In such cases, we get infinitely many solutions. For example:

x + y + z = 7, 2x – y + 3z = 7 and 5x – y + 7z = 21. Find pairs of (x,y,z) which satisfy the equation. We can see,
E3 = E1 + 2*(E2).

Thus, the system of equations are dependent and hence, infinite solutions will be there.

Time for some Extra Dose!!

Cramer’s Rule to find solution to equations with 3

variables
This rule comes handy for people who are quick at solving Matrices and hence helps saving time. Using
this method, we don’t need to find out the constants with which the equations have to be multiplied and
added/subtracted.

Step 1 : Form the Denominator Matrix D

 Step 2 : Find Determinant of D.

Step 3 : Form numerator matrices Dx , Dy and Dz where, Dx means replace Column 1 i.e., the column
having coefficients of x with the constant terms. Similarly, column 2 for Dy and column 3 for Dz.

Step 4 : Find Dx/D, Dy/D and Dz/D.

1. If D ≠ 0, the system has a unique solution.

2. If D = 0, the system is either inconsistent (no solution) or dependent.
3. If D = 0 and atleast one of Dx , Dy and Dz is zero, then the system has no solutions.

4. If all values D, Dx , Dy and Dz ​

are zero, then infinitely many solutions.

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