Chapter 1 – Systems of Linear Equations and Inequalities

Introduction:  Linear Equation is an algebraic equation in which each term has an

exponent of one and the graphing of the equation results in a straight line. Linear
equation graphs as a line, which indicates that all of the points on the line are solutions
to that linear equation. There are an infinite number of solutions. If you have a system of
linear equations, the solution for the system is the value that makes all of the equations
true. For two variables and two equations, this is the point where the two graphs
intersect. The coordinates of this point will be the solution for the two variables in the
two equations.
The term is either constant or a product of a constant and (the first power of) a single
variable, mathematically, it is represented by ax + by = c where a;b and c are constant
while x and y are the unknown variables.
 A system of linear equations (or linear system) is a collection of one or more linear
equations involving the same set of variables For example,
3x+2y – z =1
2x – 2y +4z = -2
-x + ½ Y = 0
is a system of three equations in the three variables x, y, z. A solution to a linear
system is an assignment of values to the variables such that all the equations are
simultaneously satisfied. A solution to the system above is given by

X=1
Y=-2
Z=-2
since it makes all three equations valid. The word "system" indicates that the equations
are to be considered collectively, rather than individually.

The Consistent, Independent Dependent Systems

The two equations y=2x+5y=2x+5 and y=4x+3y=4x+3, form a system of equation.
The ordered pair that is the solution of both equations is the solution of the system.
A system of two linear equations can have one solution, an infinite number of solutions,
or no solution.

Systems of equations can be classified by the number of solutions.

If a system has at least one solution, it is said to be consistent.

If a consistent system has exactly one solution, it is independent.

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If a consistent system has an infinite number of solutions, it is dependent. When you
graph the equations, both equations represent the same line.

If a system has no solution, it is said to be inconsistent. The graphs of the lines do not
intersect, so the graphs are parallel and there is no solution.

Examples:

Example
Problem Using the graph of y = x and x + 2y = 6, shown
below, determine how many solutions the system
has. Then classify the system as consistent or
inconsistent and the equations as dependent or
independent.
   
 
The lines intersect
at one point. So the
two lines have only
one point in
common, there is
only one solution to
the system.
Answer: The system is consistent and the equations  
are independent. Because the lines
are not the same
the equations are
independent.
 
Because there is
just one solution,
this system is
consistent.
 

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 Advanced Example
Problem Using the graph of y = 3.5x + 0.25 and 14x – 4y = -4.5, shown below,
determine how many solutions the system has. Then classify the system
as consistent or inconsistent and the equations as dependent or
independent.
 
The lines are parallel,
meaning they do not
intersect. There are no
solutions a
Graphing tosystem
the system.
of
 equations for a real-world
The lines
context are
can benot the same,
valuable
in the equations are
visualizing the problem.
independent.
Let’s look at a couple of
 examples.
  There are no solutions.
  Therefore, this system is
inconsistent.
Example
Problem In yesterday’s basketball game, Cheryl scored 17 points with a
Answer: The system is
combination of 2-point and 3-point baskets. The number of 2-point shots
inconsistent and the
she made was one greater than the number of 3-point shots she made.
equations
How many of each type of basket did she score? are independent.

  x = the number of 2-point shots made Assign variables to the two

y = the number of 3-point shots made
 
  2x = the points from 2-point baskets
3y = the points from 3-point baskets
 
  The number of points Cheryl scored (17) =
the points from 2-point baskets + the
points from 3-point baskets.
17 = 2x + 3y
  The number of 2-point baskets (x) = 1 +
the number of 3-point baskets (y)
 
x = 1 +  y
  17 = 2x + 3y
x  = 1 + y
unknowns – the number of each
type of shots.
Calculate how many points are
made from each of the two types
of shots.
Write an equation using
information given in the problem.
Write a second equation using
additional information given in
the problem.
Now you have a system of two
equations with two variables.

3
  
 
 
Graph both equations on the
same axes.
 
The two lines intersect, so they
have only one point in common.
That means there is only one
solution to the system.
 

 
  The point of intersection appears to be (4, Read the point of intersection
3). from the graph.

  17 = 2x+ 3y x = 1 + y Check (4, 3) in each equation to

17 = 2(4) + 3(3) 4=1+3 see if it is a solution to the
17 = 8 + 9 4=4 system of equations.
17 = 17    
     
TRUE TRUE (4, 3) is a solution to the
    equation.
(4, 3) is a solution of (4, 3) is a solution  
17 = 2x + 3y. of x = 4 and y = 3
x = 1 + y
Answer Cheryl made 4 two-point baskets and 3 three-point baskets.

 
Example
Problem Andres was trying to decide which of two mobile phone plans he
should buy. One plan, TalkALot, charged a flat fee of $15 per month
for unlimited minutes. Another plan, FriendFone, charged a monthly
fee of $5 in addition to charging 20¢ per minute for calls.
 
To examine the difference in plans, he made a graph:

4
  

If he plans to talk on the phone for about 70 minutes per month,
which plan should he purchase?
   
Answer Andres should buy theTalkALot
plan.
Look at the graph. TalkALot is
represented as y = 15, while
FriendFone is represented as
y = 0.2x + 5.
The number of minutes is listed on
the x-axis. When x = 70, TalkALot
costs $15, while FriendFone costs
about $19.
Since TalkALot costs less at 70
minutes, Andres should buy that
plan.

Solve each of

the following

equations.

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Use the graph shown to determine whether each system is consistent or inconsistent
and if it is independent or dependent.

1. y = −3x + 1; y = 3x + 1

2. y = 3x + 1; y = x – 3

3.  y = x – 3; y = x + 3

4.  y = x + 3 ; x − y = −3

5.  x − y = −3; y = −3x + 1

6.  y = −3x + 1; y = x – 3

Word Problem

7.  PHOTOGRAPHY. Suppose x represents the number of cameras sold and y

represents the number of years since 2000. Then the number of digital cameras sold
each year since 2000, in millions, can be modeled by the equation y = 12.5x + 10.9. The
number of film cameras sold each year since 2000, in millions, can be modeled by the
equation y = −9.1x + 78.8.

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a. Graph each equation.

b. In which year did digital camera sales surpass film camera sales?

c. In what year will film cameras stop selling altogether?

d. What are the domain and range of each of the functions in this situation?

8. WHICH ONE DOESN’T BELONG?  Which one of the following systems of equations

doesn’t belong with the other three? Explain your reasoning.