1.

5 SYSTEMS OF EQUATIONS
Topic overview Intended result

Methods to solve systems of equations Full Understanding of Solving Methods

Determining the number of solution Distinguishing Solution Types
Real-Life applications Application in Real-Life Scenarios
Complex systems of equations Identification of Intersection Points
Intersection points Proficiency in Reading Graphical
Graphical Representations Representations

METHODS TO SOLVE SYSTEMS OF EQUATION

A system of equations is a set of two or more equations involving the same set of variables. The primary goal
when dealing with such a system is to find values for the variables that simultaneously fulfill all the equations.
6x + 3y = 54
12x - y =10
There are only two ways to solve systems of equations.

Substitution Method Elimination Method

Here, we're going to isolate either x or y as quickly This method is about getting same coefficient for
as possible. Looking at the example above, it's one variable across the two equation so we can
clear that isolating y in the second equation is the add or subtract the equations to eliminate that
easiest way because y has no coefficient. variable.

STEP 1: Isolate one variable in one equation. STEP 1: Make one variable in the both equation
Denote the new equation with a star. have same coefficients. Using the example above,
we can multiply first equation by 2 so that x’s
6x + 3y = 54 have the same coefficient.
12x - y =10 y = 12x - 10 (*) 12x + 6y = 108
6x + 3y = 54 |*(2)
12x - y =10 12x - y =10
STEP 2: Substitute the y in the first equation with
a star equation & solve from there. STEP 2: We don’t care about the sign because we
6x + 3y = 54 can add/subtract the equations. Since in our
6x + 3(12x-10) = 54 example, coefficients of x are both (+), we should
6x + 36x - 30 = 54 subtract it.
42x = 84
12x + 6y = 108
x=2 -
12x - y =10
STEP 3: Now, substitute x = 2 to our star
(12x + 6y) - (12x - y) = 108 - 10
equation and find y.
12x+ 6y - 12x + y = 98
y = 12x - 10 7y = 98 y= 98/7= 14
y = 12*2 - 10 = 24 - 10 = 14
STEP 3: Now, substitute y=14 back to either of
STEP 4: Write your solution in general form! initial equations to find x. 12x - y = 10
(x,y) = (2,14) 12x - 14 =10
12x = 24
x=2
STEP 4: Write your solutions
in general form! (x,y) = (2,14)
DETERMINING THE NUMBER OF SOLUTIONS

To determine the number of solutions in a system of equations, we look at the coefficients of x and y in the
both equation and compare them respectively. The outcomes typically fall into one of three categories:
a. No Solution
b. Infinite Solutions
c. Numbered Solutions (e.g. 1 or 2 etc)

A. NO SOLUTION
A system of equations has no solution when the same equation is set equal to a different number. For example:

2x + y = 14
2x + y = -5

The equation above contradict each other. There is no x and y pair that will make both of the equations true at
the same time. Thus, the system of equation has no solution. So, in general, we could say the following type of
equations has NO SOLUTIONS.
ax + by = c
ax + by = d

Then, what about the following system of equations?

2x + y = 14
8x + 4y = 32

This system of equations also has NO SOLUTIONS. Why? Because the second equation can be divided by 4
to get the first equation. So yes, they also contradict each other.

Exercise 1.5.1
If the systems of equations below has no solution, what is the value of a?

a) 2x + 6y = -2
-ax - 18y = 76

b) ax - 4y = 3
5x - 16y = 76
 B. INFINITE SOLUTIONS

A system of equations has infinite solutions when the both equations are essentially identical. For example:
3x + y = 11
3x + y = 11
It has many solutions such as (1,8), (0, 11), (4,-1) etc. Simply, you can put any number on x and substitute x
on each equation to find y. Well, what about the following example?

3x + y = 11
-6x - 2y = -22

This system of equations also has INFINITE SOLUTIONS. The second equation can be divided by (-2) in
order to get the same equation as the first. So, they are exactly identical equations in root.

Exercise 1.5.2
In the systems of equations below , m and n are constants. If the system has infinitely many solutions, what is the
value of m+n?

a) 4x - 3y = -2
mx - ny = -12

b) -2x + y = 3
mx - ny = -9

Exercise 1.5.3
A group of 9 friends went to Sky Resort. Each person choose either ski or snowboard. The price for renting ski is
$30 and the price for renting snowboard is $45. If the group spent a total of $330, how many people chose ski to
rent?
 C. NUMBERED SOLUTIONS

If a system of equations has solutions, but not an infinite number of solutions, it is considered a simple system
of equations. The number of solutions is determined by the exponents of the variables. For instance:

3x + 2y = 12
2x + y = 3
Let’s solve this system using substitution methods. So first of all, we need to isolate one variable from either
of the equation. Isolating y from the second equation is most fastest way here. And let’s denote it as a star
equation.
3x + 2y = 12
2x + y = 3 y = 3-2x (*)

Now, substitute the star equation on the first equation and find x. Thus, you can find y using x.
3x + 2y = 12 y = 3 - 2x
3x + 2(3-2x) = 12 y = 3 - 2*(-6)
3x + 6 - 4x = 12 y = 3 - (-12)
-x = 6 y = 3 + 12
x = -6 y = 15
So this equation has only ONE solution which is (x,y) = (-6, 15)

Exercise 1.5.4
What are the solutions to the system of equations below?

y + 3x = 0
x 2 + 2y 2 = 76

Exercise 1.5.5
What are the solutions to the system of equations below?
Exercise 1.5.6
If xy=12, xz=4, and yz = 6, what is the value of xyz?

Exercise 1.5.7
If xy=8, xz=3, and yz = 9, what is the value of x 2y 2z 2?

Exercise 1.5.8
If xy=2, xz=6, and yz = 12, what is the value of x, y, z respectively?

GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION

As for the graphs for system of equation, it makes easier to us to see the solutions more easily. The solutions to
a system of equations are the INTERSECTION POINTS of two graphs on xy plane. Therefore, the number of
solutions is equal to the number of intersection points

=
HOW MANY HOW MANY
SOLUTIONS? INTERSECTION POINTS?
Let’s take the first example we solved in this chapter as an example.Its solution was (x,y)=(2,14)

6x + 3y = 54
12x - y =10

They are both linear equation, so

there will be only one intersection
point, which means there is a only
one solution.
Well, then what about the specific ones we talked about? What is the graphical representation of system of
equations that has NO SOLUTION?

2x + y = 14
8x + 4y = 32

As for the systems that has no solution, the

graphs of two lines will be parallel lines
because parallel lines never intersects or
touches to each other.

Now let’s talk see the graphs of the system of equation that has INFINITELY MANY SOLUTIONS.

3x + y = 11
6x + 2y = 22

Remember, those two equations are

identical right? So its graph will show only
ONE THICK LINE because it is
overlapping on each other. In other words,
they are the same line, they overlap and
intersect in an infinite number of places.

Exercise 1.5.9
A system of two equations and their graphs in the xy-plane are shown below. How many solutions does the system
have and what are the possible solutions?

a) b)
HOMEWORK FOR SYSTEM OF EQUATION
HOMEWORK FOR SYSTEM OF EQUATION
HOMEWORK FOR SYSTEM OF EQUATION
HOMEWORK FOR SYSTEM OF EQUATION