Name: ………………………………………………

VCE General Mathematics

TOPIC 4
Linear Relations and Equations

Topic Timeline
You should endeavour to remain ahead of this rough timeline.
These exercises are large (lots of content in each exercise, lots of questions to
do).
We will be doing a 30-minute quiz on Friday Week 2. This is not weighted (not a
CAT).

Week Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

1 4.1 4.1
4.2

2 4.3 4.4 QUIZ

Revision/
bound
reference
 Contents
4.1 Linear Functions in the form y=a+bx ................................................................3
Graphing linear functions y=a+bx ........................................................................3
Using CAS to draw a straight-line graph.............................................................4
Determining if a point lies on a line.....................................................................6
Gradient...............................................................................................................6
Identifying the y-intercept...................................................................................7
Determining the slope and intercept of a graph from the equation and vice
versa.....................................................................................................................7
4.2 Interpreting linear functions y=a+bx ..............................................................10
Initial value and constant rate of change...........................................................10
Modelling profit and loss...................................................................................12
4.3 Simultaneous Linear Equations......................................................................13
Graphing linear equations of the form Ax+ By=C ...............................................13
Graphing and solving simultaneous linear equations........................................14
Modelling with simultaneous equations.............................................................14
4.4 Piecewise Linear Graphs.................................................................................16
Line segment graphs..........................................................................................16
Step graphs........................................................................................................18
Chapter 4 Review..................................................................................................19

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 4.1 Linear Functions in the form y=a+bx

Graphing linear functions y=a+bx

Create a table of values.
When in doubt (or unless otherwise instructed), use x=0 and x=2 as good


generic values. You only need two points for a straight line.


x 0 2

 Make sure you consider the scale of your axes to cover all of y .
y

 LABEL YOUR AXES!!!

 Plot your points then draw the line.
Usually easier to do by hand than on CAS, especially if you only use two values of
x.
Example 1

I do… You do…

Plot the graph of y=1+2 x by forming a Plot the graph of y=8−2 x by forming a
table of values of y using x=0 , 1 , 2, 3 , 4 . table of values by using x=0 , 1 , 2, 3 , 4.

x x
y
y

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Using CAS to draw a straight-line graph
We will use CAS to draw the graph of y=8−2 x and show a table of values.

Open Graphs and Table

Enter the equation and press EXE

Press the graph icon to actually plot it

(If this doesn’t work, make sure you click

so you can actually see

To see the line better, click Zoom  Quick  Quick Standard.

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To display a table of values, click

To choose what values of x to put in (otherwise you may get weird decimals),

tap

Start is your first value of x

End is what you want to end on
Step is what you want to go up by.

And you get

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Determining if a point lies on a line
 Substitute in the x-value in the equation.
 If the y-value comes out correct, the point is on the line.
Example 2

Does the point (-2, 3) lie on the line y=3 x−8?

Gradient
Slope = gradient
Positive – going UP from left to


right


Negative – going DOWN from

left to right


 Zero – straight across

rise
slope=
run

Here, the rise is 2−7=−5 (negative because it is going down from left to
right)
The run is 8−2=6
−5
slope=
6

Referring to the diagram below. We are finding the slope between a point A at
(x 1 , y 1 ) and B at (x 2 , y 2 ). We can generalise the following formula (which takes care
of the sign of the gradient for you):

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 y 2− y 1
slope=
x 2−x 1

IMPORTANT:
When given the equation y=a+b x or y=b x+ a, the value of b (the number in front
of x ) is the value of the gradient!
E.g.
The gradient of y=3+ 4 x is 4. The gradient of y=− x−3 is -1.

Example 3

I do… You do…

Find the slope of the line going Find the slope of the line (illustrated
through the points ( 2 , 5 ) and (4 , 10) . below) through the points (1 , 7) and
(4 , 2) using the formula. Give your
answer correct to two decimal places.

Identifying the y-intercept

 The y-intercept is where the line goes through the y-axis

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  In the equation y=a+bx or y=bx+ a, a=¿ the y -intercept of the graph.

Determining the slope and intercept of a graph from the equation and vice versa

The number (a ) without an x is the y-intercept

 y=a+bx

The number (b ) attached to the x is the slope/gradient



Watch out for fractions!




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Example 4

I do… You do…

Find the slope and y -intercept of the Find the slope and y -intercept of the
line given by the equation y=1+3 x
line given by the equation y=−1− x
3
5

Example 5

I do… You do…

Write the equation of the line with y - Write the equation of the line with y -
intercept 2 and slope −4.
intercept -3 and slope .
1
5

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Example 6
Find the equation of the following straight lines by finding the y-intercept and
slope.

I do… You do…

y-intercept is 4

slope is
y 2− y 1 1−4 −3 −3
= = =
x 2−x 1 2−0 2 2

equation is
3
y=4− x
2

TO DO:
Nelson Ex 4.1 p. 170
Questions 1cd, 2cd, 3, 4cdef, 5, 6cde, 7-13

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 4.2 Interpreting linear functions y=a+bx

Initial value and constant rate of change

We’re looking at a worded scenario and trying to fit it to a y=a+bx formula.
a is always the INITIAL value – what it starts as (when x=0 ¿.


b is always the constant RATE of increase/decrease – what it goes up by or



down by PER thing (week/kilometer/ticket sold).



Then write your equation in the form y=a+bx . This is our ‘model’.
If given a graph:


o Whatever variable is on the horizontal axis replaces x



o Whatever variable is on the vertical axis replaces y

o Find the equation like normal, y=a+bx
Once you have the equation, you can extrapolate or interpolate (make
predictions based on your model).


Linear models only apply to a specific range of values. These values are the
domain of interpretation.


Example 1

I do… You do…

Shriya is already 25 pages into her When first planted, the height of a
book. She reads at an average rate of tomato plant was 5cm.
1.5 pages per minute. The plant then grows at a constant
a) Write down a linear model in rate of 6cm per week for the next 10
terms of p, for pages read, and t , weeks.
for the number of minutes spent a) Write down a linear model in
reading, to represent this terms of h and t to represent this
situation. situation.
b) Use the model to predict how b) Use the model to predict the
long it will take Shriya to height of the plant after 10
complete this 451-page book. weeks.

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Example 2

I do… You do…

The value of new cars depreciates with Water is pumped into a partially full
time. The graph shows how the value tank. The graph gives the volume of
V (in dollars) of a new car depreciates water V (in litres) after t minutes.
with time t (in years).

a) How much water is in the tank

a) What was the value of the car initially?
when it was new? b) Find the equation of the line in
b) Find the equation of the line in terms of V and t .
terms of V and t . c) At what rate is water pumped
c) At what rate does the value of into the tank?
the car depreciate with time? d) The tank can only hold 2500
d) When will the car have zero litres. When will the tank be full?
value? e) For what values of t does this
e) What is the domain of model work?
interpretation?

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 e. the domain of interpretation is
from
t=0 to t=11.
Because we never have negative
time and the value of the car
cannot be negative.

Modelling profit and loss

Cost = money going out of a business
Revenue = money coming in to a business


Profit = revenue – cost



If profit is negative, cost >revenue and the company has lost money.



Example 3

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 TO DO:
Nelson Ex 4.2 p. 177
Questions 3, 5, 6-15

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 4.3 Simultaneous Linear Equations

Graphing linear equations of the form Ax+ By=C

When given an equation in the form Ax+ By=C (e.g. 3 x+ 2 y =7 ¿as opposed to
y=a+bx , we can no longer find the slope and y-intercept using a and b .


 Instead, sketch on CAS or by hand.

 By hand:
o Find x-intercept by substituting y=0 and solve
o Find y-intercept by substituting x=0 and solve
o Draw straight line between the two intercepts
Example 1

I do… You do…

Graph 4 x+3 y =8 by hand. Graph −3 x+ y=−2 by hand.

x-intercept let y=0

y-intercept let x=0

The solution is 2 ,
( 38 )
Can also write
8
x=2 , y=
3

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Graphing and solving simultaneous linear equations
Two straight lines will always meet somewhere UNLESS they are parallel
We can find the point of intersection by reading from the graph or by using


simultaneous equations.


You can solve simultaneous equations by substitution or elimination.

Make sure you use the variables (letters) given in the question!


I encourage you to use CAS:




Example 2

I do… You do…

Find where the equations 3 x+ 2 y =7 Find where the equations y=2 x +6 and
and y=2 x +5 intersect. y−3=2 x intersect.

Modelling with simultaneous equations

You will need to write your own equations
Method:


o Choose and write down appropriate pronumerals to represent each



variable
o Write your equations
 Use perimeter/area/volume formulas if necessary
 If something costs money ‘per’ or for each ticket, this number
goes in front of that variable
o Substitute any known values in
o Solve using CAS
o Write your answers in full sentences, taking care of units.

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Example 3

I do… You do…

Tickets for a movie cost $19.50 for Mark buys 3 roses and 2 gardenias for
adults and $14.50 for children. Two $15.50. Peter buys 5 roses and 3
hundred tickets were sold giving a gardenias for $24.50. How much did
total of $3265. How many adult tickets each type of flower cost?
and child tickets were sold?

TO DO:
Nelson Ex 4.3 p. 185
Questions 4ac, 5, 6, 8-10, 12, 13, 15

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 4.4 Piecewise Linear Graphs

Line segment graphs

Each section of the graph is described by a different straight-line equation
(i.e. a different y=a+bx )


 These straight line pieces are joined

Here, we have four different straight

lines:


o d=60 h(0 ≤ h<1)

o d=60(1 ≤h< 2)
o d=−11+80 h(2≤ h<3)
o d=560−140 h(3 ≤ h ≤ 4)

When sketching, we just use the ‘start’ and ‘end’ values of x to find the
start and end coordinates, then draw lines between


When using the ‘model’, we must make sure we use the correct equation to
substitute it into


For distance-time graphs, the slope represents speed ( speed=

distance
 ¿
time

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Example 1

I do… You do…

A morning walk with the dog involves The amount, C dollars, charged to
going uphill to a park, staying at the supply and deliver x m3 of crushed
park, and then walking downhill to get rock is given:
home.
This is described by the following
C=50+ 40 x ( 0 ≤ x <3 )

piecewise linear function, where d

C=80+3 x ( 3≤ x <8 )

gives the distance, in km , from home a) Use the appropriate equation to

and t gives the time in hours: determine the cost to supply and
deliver the following amounts of
crushed rock:
d=2t ( 0≤ t <0.5 )

i.
d=1(0.5 ≤t <1.5)

ii.
d=7−4 t (1.5 ≤t ≤ 1.75) 2.5 m
3

a) Use the appropriate equation to iii.

3
3m

determine the distance from

3
6m

home at the following times: b) Use the equations to construct a

i. 0.25 hours (15 minutes) piecewise linear graph for 0 ≤ x< 8
ii. 1 hour .
iii. 1.75 hours (1 hour 45
minutes)

b) Use the equations to construct a

piecewise linear graph for
0 ≤ t ≤ 1.75¿

c) Give the speed for the first 30

minutes.

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 c) First 30 minutes is the first 0.5
hours on the graph

Speed =slope=gradient
d=2t

Gradient=2
So the speed is 2 km/hr

Step graphs
 Piecewise linear graph with only horizontal straight line pieces.

Read information off the correct section of the graph.

To avoid double-ups:


o Open circles mean that the point is not to be read from that part of


the graph
o Closed circles mean that the point is to be read from that part of the
graph

Example 2

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We do…

TO DO:
Nelson Ex 4.4 p. 194
Questions 3-5, 6-9, 11-15

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 Chapter 4 Review

Complete the following questions:

o Cumulative examination 1 questions 7-12


o Cumulative examination 2 questions 4-5

As you complete the questions, write one double-sided A4 sheet of notes.
These notes should include any information, theories, formulas, and


examples that you used to help you answer the questions.

As you create these pages, they will consist of useful summaries to have at
the very start of your bound reference


Use the following excerpt from the VCE Mathematics

Study Design to help structure your notes:


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