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CHAPTER 4

LINEAR EQUATIONS IN TWO VARIABLES

(A) Main Concepts and Results

An equation is a statement in which one expression equals to another expression. An
equation of the form ax + by + c = 0, where a, b and c are real numbers such that
a ≠ 0 and b ≠ 0, is called a linear equation in two variables. The process of finding
solution(s) is called solving an equation.
The solution of a linear equation is not affected when
(i) the same number is added to (subtracted from) both sides of the equation,
(ii) both sides of the equation are multiplied or divided by the same non-zero
number.
Further, a linear equation in two variables has infinitely many solutions. The graph of
every linear equation in two variables is a straight line and every point on the graph
(straight line) represents a solution of the linear equation. Thus, every solution of the
linear equation can be represented by a unique point on the graph of the equation. The
graphs of x = a and y = a are lines parallel to the y-axis and x-axis, respectively.
(B) Multiple Choice Questions
Write the correct answer:
Sample Question 1 : The linear equation 3x – y = x – 1 has :
(A) A unique solution (B) Two solutions
(C) Infinitely many solutions (D) No solution
Solution : Answer (C)
Sample Question 2 : A linear equation in two variables is of the form
ax + by + c = 0, where

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34 EXEMPLAR PROBLEMS

(A) a ≠ 0, b ≠ 0 (B) a = 0, b ≠ 0 (C) a ≠ 0, b = 0 (D) a = 0, c = 0

Solution : Answer (A)
Sample Question 3 : Any point on the y-axis is of the form
(A) (x, 0) (B) (x, y) (C) (0, y) (D) ( y, y)
Solution : Answer (C)

EXERCISE 4.1
Write the correct answer in each of the following :
1. The linear equation 2x – 5y = 7 has
(A) A unique solution (B) Two solutions
(C) Infinitely many solutions (D) No solution
2. The equation 2x + 5y = 7 has a unique solution, if x, y are :
(A) Natural numbers (B) Positive real numbers
(C) Real numbers (D) Rational numbers
3. If (2, 0) is a solution of the linear equation 2x + 3y = k, then the value of k is
(A) 4 (B) 6 (C) 5 (D) 2
4. Any solution of the linear equation 2x + 0y + 9 = 0 in two variables is of the form
9 9
(A) (– , m) (B) (n, – )
2 2
9
(C) (0, – ) (D) (– 9, 0)
2
5. The graph of the linear equation 2x + 3y = 6 cuts the y-axis at the point
(A) (2, 0) (B) (0, 3) (C) (3, 0) (D) (0, 2)
6. The equation x = 7, in two variables, can be written as
(A) 1 . x + 1 . y = 7 (B) 1. x + 0. y = 7
(C) 0 . x + 1 . y = 7 (D) 0 . x + 0 . y = 7
7. Any point on the x-axis is of the form
(A) (x, y) (B) (0, y) (C) (x, 0) (D) (x, x)
8. Any point on the line y = x is of the form
(A) (a, a) (B) (0, a) (C) (a, 0) (D) (a, – a)

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LINEAR EQUATIONS IN TWO VARIABLES 35

9. The equation of x-axis is of the form

(A) x = 0 (B) y = 0 (C) x + y = 0 (D) x = y
10. The graph of y = 6 is a line
(A) parallel to x-axis at a distance 6 units from the origin
(B) parallel to y-axis at a distance 6 units from the origin
(C) making an intercept 6 on the x-axis.
(D) making an intercept 6 on both the axes.
11. x = 5, y = 2 is a solution of the linear equation
(A) x + 2 y = 7 (B) 5x + 2y = 7 (C) x + y = 7 (D) 5 x + y = 7
12. If a linear equation has solutions (–2, 2), (0, 0) and (2, – 2), then it is of the form
(A) y – x = 0 (B) x + y = 0
(C) –2x + y = 0 (D) –x + 2y = 0
13. The positive solutions of the equation ax + by + c = 0 always lie in the
(A) 1st quadrant (B) 2nd quadrant
(C) 3rd quadrant (D) 4th quadrant
14. The graph of the linear equation 2x + 3y = 6 is a line which meets the x-axis at the
point
(A) (0, 2) (B) (2, 0) (C) (3, 0) (D) (0, 3)
15. The graph of the linear equation y = x passes through the point

⎛ 3 −3 ⎞ ⎛ 3⎞ ⎛ −1 1 ⎞
(A) ⎜ , ⎟ (B) ⎜ 0, ⎟ (C) (1, 1) (D) ⎜ , ⎟
⎝2 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2⎠ ⎝ 2 2⎠
16. If we multiply or divide both sides of a linear equation with a non-zero number, then
the solution of the linear equation :
(A) Changes
(B) Remains the same
(C) Changes in case of multiplication only
(D) Changes in case of division only
17. How many linear equations in x and y can be satisfied by x = 1 and y = 2?
(A) Only one (B) Two (C) Infinitely many (D) Three
18. The point of the form (a, a) always lies on :
(A) x-axis (B) y-axis
(C) On the line y = x (D) On the line x + y = 0

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36 EXEMPLAR PROBLEMS

19. The point of the form (a, – a) always lies on the line
(A) x = a (B) y = – a (C) y = x (D) x+y=0

(C) Short Answer Questions with Reasoning

Sample Question 1 : Write whether the following statements are True or False?
Justify your answers.
(i) ax + by + c = 0, where a, b and c are real numbers, is a linear equation in
two variables.
(ii) A linear equation 2x + 3y = 5 has a unique solution.
(iii) All the points (2, 0), (–3, 0), (4, 2) and (0, 5) lie on the x-axis.
(iv) The line parallel to the y-axis at a distance 4 units to the left of y-axis is given
by the equation x = – 4.
(v) The graph of the equation y = mx + c passes through the origin.
Solution :
(i) False, because ax + by + c = 0 is a linear equation in two variables if both
a and b are non-zero.
(ii) False, because a linear equation in two variables has infinitely many solutions.
(iii) False, the points (2, 0), (–3, 0) lie on the x-axis. The point (4, 2) lies in the
first quadrant. The point (0, 5) lies on the y-axis.
(iv) True, since the line parallel to y-axis at a distance a units to the left of y-axis
is given by the equation x = – a.
(v) False, because x = 0, y = 0 does not satisfy the equation.
Sample Question 2 : Write whether the following statement is True or False? Justify
your answer.
The coordinates of points given in the table :

x 0 1 2 3 4
y 2 4 6 8 10

represent some of the solutions of the equation 2x + 2 = y.

Solution : True, since on looking at the coordinates, we observe that each y-coordiante
is two units more than double the x-coordinate.

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LINEAR EQUATIONS IN TWO VARIABLES 37

EXERCISE 4.2
Write whether the following statements are True or False? Justify your answers :
1. The point (0, 3) lies on the graph of the linear equation 3x + 4y = 12.
2. The graph of the linear equation x + 2y = 7 passes through the point (0, 7).
3. The graph given below represents the linear equation x + y = 0.

Fig. 4.1
4. The graph given below represents the linear equation
x = 3 (see Fig. 4.2).
5. The coordinates of points in the table:

x 0 1 2 3 4
y 2 3 4 –5 6

represent some of the solutions of the equation

x – y + 2 = 0.
6. Every point on the graph of a linear equation in two Fig. 4.2
variables does not represent a solution of the linear
equation.
7. The graph of every linear equation in two variables need not be a line.

(D) Short Answer Questions

Sample Question 1 : Find the points where the graph of the equation 3x + 4y = 12
cuts the x-axis and the y-axis.
Solution : The graph of the linear equation 3x + 4y = 12 cuts the x-axis at the point
where y = 0. On putting y = 0 in the linear equation, we have 3x = 12, which gives
x = 4. Thus, the required point is (4, 0).

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38 EXEMPLAR PROBLEMS

The graph of the linear equation 3x + 4y = 12 cuts the y-axis at the point where x = 0.
On putting x = 0 in the given equation, we have 4y = 12, which gives y = 3. Thus, the
required point is (0, 3).
Sample Question 2 : At what point does the graph of the linear equation x + y = 5
meet a line which is parallel to the y-axis, at a distance 2 units from the origin and in the
positive direction of x-axis.
Solution : The coordinates of the points lying on the line parallel to the y-axis, at a
distance 2 units from the origin and in the positive direction of the x-axis are of the form
(2, a). Putting x = 2, y = a in the equation x + y = 5, we get a = 3. Thus, the required
point is (2, 3).
Sample Question 3 : Determine the point on the graph of the equation 2x + 5y = 20
5
whose x-coordinate is times its ordinate.
2
5 5
Solution : As the x-coordinate of the point is times its ordinate, therefore, x = y.
2 2
5
Now putting x = y in 2x + 5y = 20, we get, y = 2. Therefore, x = 5. Thus, the required
2
point is (5, 2).
Sample Question 4 : Draw the graph of the equation
represented by the straight line which is parallel to the
x-axis and is 4 units above it.
Solution : Any straight line parallel to x-axis is given by
y = k, where k is the distance of the line from the x-axis.
Here k = 4. Therefore, the equation of the line is y = 4.
To draw the graph of this equation, plot the points (1, 4)
and (2, 4) and join them. This is the required graph
(see Fig. 4.3). Fig. 4.3

EXERCISE 4.3

1. Draw the graphs of linear equations

y = x and y = – x on the same cartesian plane.
What do you observe?

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LINEAR EQUATIONS IN TWO VARIABLES 39

2. Determine the point on the graph of the linear equation 2x + 5y = 19, whose
1
ordinate is 1 times its abscissa.
2
3. Draw the graph of the equation represented by a straight line which is parallel to
the x-axis and at a distance 3 units below it.
4. Draw the graph of the linear equation whose solutions are represented by the
points having the sum of the coordinates as 10 units.
5. Write the linear equation such that each point on its graph has an ordinate 3 times
its abscissa.
6. If the point (3, 4) lies on the graph of 3y = ax + 7, then find the value of a.
7. How many solution(s) of the equation 2x + 1 = x – 3 are there on the :
(i) Number line (ii) Cartesian plane
8. Find the solution of the linear equation x + 2y = 8 which represents a point on
(i) x-axis (ii) y-axis
9. For what value of c, the linear equation 2x + cy = 8 has equal values of x and y
for its solution.
10. Let y varies directly as x. If y = 12 when x = 4, then write a linear equation. What
is the value of y when x = 5?

(E) Long Answer Questions

Sample Question 1 : Draw the graph of the linear equation 2x + 3y = 12. At what
points, the graph of the equation cuts the x-axis and the y-axis?
Solution : The given equation is 2x + 3y = 12. To draw the graph of this equation, we
need at least two points lying on the graph.
12 − 2 x
From the equation, we have y =
3
For x = 0, y = 4, therefore, (0, 4) lies on the graph.
For y = 0, x = 6, therefore, (6, 0) lies on the graph.
Now plot the points A (0, 4) and B (6, 0) and
join them (see Fig 4.4), to get the line AB.
Line AB is the required graph.
You can see that the graph (line AB) cuts
the x-axis at the point (6, 0) and the y-axis at
the point (0, 4). Fig. 4.4

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40 EXEMPLAR PROBLEMS

Sample Question 2 : The following values of x and y are thought to satisfy a linear
equation :

x 1 2
y 1 3

Draw the graph, using the values of x, y as given in the above table.
At what point the graph of the linear equation
(i) cuts the x-axis. (ii) cuts the y-axis.
Solution : From the table, we get two points
A (1, 1) and B (2, 3) which lie on the graph of the
linear equation. Obviously, the graph will be a
straight line. So, we first plot the points A and B
and join them as shown in the Fig 4.5.
From the Fig 4.5, we see that the graph cuts the
⎛1 ⎞
x-axis at the point ⎜ , 0 ⎟ and the y-axis at the
⎝2 ⎠
point (0, –1). Fig. 4.5
Sample Question 3 : The Autorikshaw fare
in a city is charged Rs 10 for the first kilometer
and @ Rs 4 per kilometer for subsequent
distance covered. Write the linear equation to
express the above statement. Draw the graph
of the linear equation.
Solution : Let the total distance covered be
x km and the fare charged Rs y. Then for the
first km, fare charged is Rs 10 and for
remaining (x –1) km fare charged is
Rs 4 (x – 1).
Therefore, y = 10 + 4(x – 1) = 4x + 6
The required equation is y = 4x + 6. Now, when
x = 0, y = 6 and when x = –1, y = 2. The graph
is given in Fig 4.6. Fig. 4.6
Sample Question 4 : The work done by a body on application of a constant force is
the product of the constant force and the distance travelled by the body in the direction
of force. Express this in the form of a linear equation in two variables and draw its

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LINEAR EQUATIONS IN TWO VARIABLES 41

graph by taking the constant force as 3 units. What is the work done when the distance
travelled is 2 units. Verify it by plotting the graph.
Solution: Work done = (constant force) × (distance)
= 3 × (distance),
i.e., y = 3x, where y (units) is the work done and
x (units) is the distance travelled. Since x = 2 units
(given), therefore, work done = 6 units. To plot
the graph of the linear equation y = 3x, we need at
least two solutions of the equation. We see that
x = 0, y = 0 satisfies the given equation also x = 1,
y = 3 satisfies the equation.
Now we plot the points A (0, 0) and B (1, 3) and
join AB (see Fig. 4.7). The graph of the equation
is a straight line. [We have not shown the whole
line because work done cannot be negative].
To verify from the graph, draw a perpendicular to
the x-axis at the point (2, 0) meeting the graph at
the point C. Clearly the coordinates of C are
Fig. 4.7
(2, 6). It means the work done is 6 units.

EXERCISE 4.4

1. Show that the points A (1, 2), B (– 1, – 16) and C (0, – 7) lie on the graph of the
linear equation y = 9x – 7.
2. The following observed values of x and y are thought to satisfy a linear equation.
Write the linear equation :

x 6 –6
y –2 6

Draw the graph using the values of x, y as given in the above table.
At what points the graph of the linear equation
(i) cuts the x-axis (ii) cuts the y-axis
3. Draw the graph of the linear equation 3x + 4y = 6. At what points, the graph cuts
the x-axis and the y-axis.

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42 EXEMPLAR PROBLEMS

4. The linear equation that converts Fahrenheit (F) to Celsius (C) is given by the
relation
5F −160
C=
9
(i)If the temperature is 86°F, what is the temperature in Celsius?
(ii)If the temperature is 35°C, what is the temperature in Fahrenheit?
(iii)If the temperature is 0°C what is the temperature in Fahrenheit and if the
temperature is 0°F, what is the temperature in Celsius?
(iv) What is the numerical value of the temperature which is same in both the
scales?
5. If the temperature of a liquid can be measured in kelvin units as x°K or in Fahrenheit
units as y°F. The relation between the two systems of measurement of temperature
is given by the linear equation
9
y= (x – 273) + 32
5
(i)Find the temperature of the liquid in Fahrenheit if the temperature of the
body is 313°K.
(ii) If the temperature is 158° F, then find the temperature in Kelvin.
6. The force exerted to pull a cart is directly proportional to the acceleration produced
in the body. Express the statement as a linear equation of two variables and draw
the graph of the same by taking the constant mass equal to 6 kg. Read from the
graph, the force required when the acceleration produced is (i) 5 m/sec2,
(ii) 6 m/sec2.

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