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College Prep SECTION 4.2 Problem Solving: Systems of Linear Equations in 2 Variables

This document provides examples and explanations for solving various types of word problems involving systems of linear equations in two variables, including direct translation problems, geometry problems, mixture problems, and uniform motion problems. It explains how to identify the relevant information, write the corresponding linear equations, and solve the system of equations using elimination or substitution to find the solution. One example problem solved finds that a small airplane has an airspeed of 175 miles per hour and the wind speed is 25 miles per hour. Homework problems from the pages listed are assigned.

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48 views

College Prep SECTION 4.2 Problem Solving: Systems of Linear Equations in 2 Variables

This document provides examples and explanations for solving various types of word problems involving systems of linear equations in two variables, including direct translation problems, geometry problems, mixture problems, and uniform motion problems. It explains how to identify the relevant information, write the corresponding linear equations, and solve the system of equations using elimination or substitution to find the solution. One example problem solved finds that a small airplane has an airspeed of 175 miles per hour and the wind speed is 25 miles per hour. Homework problems from the pages listed are assigned.

Uploaded by

Aml Aml
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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COLLEGE PREP

SECTION 4.2 ~ Problem Solving: Systems of linear equations in 2 variables

Objectives:
• Model and solve direct translation problems involving 2 linear equations in 2 unknowns.
• Model and solve Geometry, Mixture, and Uniform Motion Problems involving 2 linear equations in 2
unknowns.
• Find the Intersection of 2 linear functions.

DIRECT TRANSLATION PROBLEMS: (Writing equations given information)


EXAMPLE: On a 12-hour trip from Ohio to the Outer Banks, the Smith family stopped twice for snacks. In West
Virginia they ordered 3 large drinks and 4 sub sandwiches for $22.25. A few hours later they stopped again in
North Carolina and ordered 2 large drinks and 3 sub sandwiches for $16.25. How much did each large drink
and each sub cost? (Assume that the cost of each is the same in both locations.)

Step 1: Identify the problem and name variables.


The problem? How much does each drink and each sandwich cost?
Let s= number of sandwiches and d = number of drinks.

Step 2: Translate.
3 drinks and 4 sandwiches cost $22.25, so 3  4  $22.25
2 drinks and 3 sandwiches cost $16.25, so 2  3  $16.25

Step 3: Solve. (use Elimination)


2 3  4  $22.25  6  8  44.50
3 2  3  $16.25  6  9  48.75

Add equations:   4.25,    $4.25


Substitute back in: 2  3 4.25  16.25  2  3.50    $1.75

Step 4: Check and Answer. One drink costs $1.75, One sub sandwich costs $4.25

GEOMETRY PROBLEMS: (using geometry formulas to solve)

EXAMPLE: Susie plans to enclose her rectangular garden with a picket fence. She purchased 38 feet of fencing
to enclose the garden, which is 5 feet longer than it is wide. Find the dimensions of her garden.

Step 1: Identify and Name. We want to know the width ( let w=width) and length (let l = length) of the garden.

Step 2: Translate. The perimeter (P) of the garden is   2  2. Since her fencing is enough for a perimeter
of 38 feet, we will use      as one of our equations.

Since the garden is 5 feet longer than it is wide,   

Step 3: Solve. (Use substitution) 38  2  2 5  


38  2  10  2
28  4
7
Substitute again:   5    5  7  12

Step 4: Check and answer: The dimensions of Sue’s garden are: length of 12 feet, width of 7 feet.
MIXTURE PROBLEMS: Includes financial planning and blending quantities.

EXAMPLE: A recently retired couple needs $12,000 per year to supplement their Social Security. They have
$150,000 to invest. They have decided on two investments: Bonds yielding 10%, and a CD yielding
5%. How much should be invested in each to realize exactly $12,000?

Identify and name. How much should we place in bonds (let b=bonds) , and how much in CD’s (let
c=CD’s)?

Translate: The total amount invested is: bonds plus CD’s equaling $150,000, so !  "  150,000
The interest earned is: 10% on bonds plus 5% on CD’s equals $12,000, so . 10!  .05"  12,000

Solve. Use substitution or elimination. Using substitution: !  "  150,000,  !  150,000  "
. 10 150,000  "  .05"  12,000
15,000  .10"  .05"  12,000 combine c’s and subtract 15,000
.05"  3,000 divide by -.05
#  $%, %%%
Substitute back in: &  150,000  "  150,000  60,000  '%, %%%

Answer: They should put $90,000 in bonds and $60,000 in CD’s.

EXAMPLE: A coffee distributor is blending a new coffee that will cost $3.90 per pound. It will consist of a blend
of $3.00-per-pound coffee and $6.00-per-pound coffee. What amounts of each type of coffee should
be mixed to make 10 pounds of the blend?

Identify: How much of each type should we use? Let A= $3.00 per pound coffee, and B=$6.00/pound coffee

Translate: We’re blending enough of coffee A and coffee B to make 10 pounds, so (  )  *%


Charging $3 for each pound of A plus $6 for each pound of B gives us $3.90 for each pound of blend
(and we have 10 pounds of that), so 3+  6,  3.90 10 - (  $)  '

Solve: Let’s use elimination this time. Multiply the first equation by -3.
3 +  ,  10  3+  3,  30
3+  6,  39  3+  6,  39 Add the equations.

3,  9,  )  

Substitute back in: +  ,  10  +  3  10  (.

Answer: They should use 7 pounds of the $3.00 coffee and 3 pounds of the $6.00 coffee.
UNIFORM MOTION PROBLEMS: Problems using the formula /  01

EXAMPLE: With a tail wind, a small airplane can fly 600 miles in 3 hours. Against the same wind, the plane can
fly the same distance in 4 hours. Find the average wind speed, and the average airspeed of the
plane.

Identify: We want to know wind speed (let’s call it ) and airspeed of the plane (let’s call that 2).

Translate: With a tail wind, airspeed plus wind speed lets us go 600 miles in 3 hours. Using the   -3 formula,
distance is 600, time is 3, so rate has to be the combination of speeds -- 2   (airspeed plus
windspeed). So our first equation is 600  2  3 - $%%  4  

Against the wind, the rate would be airspeed minus windspeed, so 2  . The distance is the same,
so it’s 600, and the rate is 4 hours. Our second equation is 600  2  4 - $%%  54  5

Solve: Use elimination. Multiply the first equation by 4, and the second equation by 3.
4 600  32  3  2400  122  12
3 600  42  4  1800  122  12
Add equations: 4200  242
*.  4

Substitute back in: 600  32  3  600  3 175  3  75  3  

Answer: Airspeed is 175 miles per hour, wind speed is 25 miles per hour.

FIND THE INTERSECTION OF TWO LINEAR FUNCTIONS – when are two linear functions equal?
EXAMPLE: A company sells its basic wood stove for $475. The variable costs of manufacturing the stove are
$175 per stove. The fixed monthly costs are $7500.

A) Write revenue 6 as a function of the number of wood stoves sold (x). 7 8  5. 8


(how much do we get for every stove sold)

B) Write cost 9 as a function of the number of stoves manufactured. : 8  *. 8  . %%


(cost equals the cost to make each stove plus the fixed costs.)

C) Graph the revenue function and the cost function on the same Cartesian plane.

y
Note that the scale on the y-axis is by 1000’s!

10 20 30 x

D) Find the break-even point (the point of intersection). Tell the number of wood stoves made and the revenue
at this point. (about (25, 11,875) - so 25 wood stoves made, $11,875 revenue)

Homework: page 280-284, # 3, 7, 9, 11, 15, 23, 25, 29, 31, 39 AND page 330-331, # 1, 5, 7, 11, 15, 19

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