AS-Level Maths:

Core 1
for Edexcel

C1.3 Algebra and

functions 3
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 Linear simultaneous equations

Linear simultaneous equations

Simultaneous equations involving one linear and
Contents

one quadratic equation

Linear inequalities
Quadratic inequalities
Polynomials
Examination-style questions

2 of 56 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Linear simultaneous equations

An equation with two unknowns has an infinite number of

solution pairs. For example:
x+y=3
is true when x=1 and y=2
x = –4 and y=7
x = 6.4 and y = –3.4 and so on.

y
We can represent the set of
solutions graphically. 3
x+y=3
The coordinates of every point
on the line satisfy the equation.
0 x
3

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Linear simultaneous equations

Similarly, an infinite number of solution pairs exist for the

equation
y–x=1
Again, we can represent the set of y
solutions graphically.
There is one pair of values that y–x=1
satisfies both these equations
1
simultaneously.
This pair of values corresponds to -1 0 x
x+y=3
the point where the lines x + y = 3
and y – x = 1 intersect:
This is the point (1, 2). At this point x = 1 and y = 2.

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Linear simultaneous equations

Two linear equations with two unknowns, such as x and y, can

be solved simultaneously to give a single pair of solutions.
When will a pair of linear simultaneous
equations have no solutions?
In the case where the lines corresponding to the equations are
parallel, they will never intersect and so there are no solutions.
Linear simultaneous equations can be solved algebraically
using:
The elimination method, or
The substitution method.
The solution to the equations can be illustrated graphically by
finding the points where the two lines representing the
equations intersect.

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The elimination method

If two equations are true for the same values, we can add or
subtract them to give a third equation that is also true for the
same values. For example:
Solve the simultaneous equations
3x + 7y = 22 and 3x + 4y = 10.
Subtracting gives: 3x + 7y = 22 The terms in x have
– 3x + 4y = 10 been eliminated.
3y = 12
y=4
Substituting y = 4 into the first equation gives:
3x + 28 = 22
3x = –6
x = –2
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The elimination method

We can check whether x = –2 and y = 4 solves both

3x + 7y = 22
3x + 4y = 10
by substituting them into the second equation.

LHS = 3 × –2 + 4 × 4
= –6 + 16
= 10
= RHS

So the solution is x = –2, y = 4.

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The elimination method

Sometimes we need to multiply one or both of the equations

before we can eliminate one of the variables. For example:
Solve: 5x – 2y = 31 1
4x + 3y = 11 2
We need to have the same number in front of either the x or
the y terms before adding or subtracting the equations.

Call these equations 1 and 2 .

3× 1 15x – 6y = 93 3
2× 2 + 8x + 6y = 22 4
3 + 4 23x = 115
x=5

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The elimination method

Substitute x = 5 in 1 :

5 × 5 – 2y = 31
25 – 2y = 31
–2y = 6
x = –3
Check by substituting x = 5 and y = –3 into 2 :
LHS = 4 × 5 + 3 × –3
= 20 – 9
= 11
= RHS
So the solution is x = 5, y = –3.

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The elimination method

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The substitution method

Two simultaneous equations can also be solved by

substituting one equation into the other. For example:

Solve: y = 2x – 3 1
2x + 3y = 23 2

Call these equations 1 and 2 .

Substitute 1 into 2 :
2x + 3(2x – 3) = 23
2x + 6x – 9 = 23
8x – 9 = 23
8x = 32
x=4
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The substitution method

Substituting x = 4 into 1 gives

y=2×4–3
y=5

Check by substituting x = 4 and y = 5 into 2 :

LHS = 2 × 4 + 3 × 5
= 8 + 15
= 23
= RHS

So the solution is x = 4, y = 5.

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The substitution method

Solve: 3x – y = 9 1
8x + 5y = 1 2

Call these equations 1 and 2 .

One of the equations needs to be arranged in the form x = …
or y = … before it can be substituted into the other equation.

Rearrange equation 1 :
3x – y = 9
– y = 9 – 3x
y = 3x – 9

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The substitution method

Now substitute y = 3x – 9 into equation 2 :

8x + 5(3x – 9) = 1
8x + 15x – 45 = 1
23x – 45 = 1
23x = 46
x=2
Substitute x = 2 into equation 1 to find the value of y:
6–y=9
–y = 3
y = –3
So the solution is x = 2, y = –3.

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 One linear and one quadratic equation

Linear simultaneous equations

Simultaneous equations involving one linear and
Contents

one quadratic equation

Linear inequalities
Quadratic inequalities
Polynomials
Examination-style questions

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One linear and one quadratic equation

Suppose one of the equations in a pair of simultaneous

equations is linear and the other is a quadratic of the form
y = ax2 + bx + c.

By considering the points

where the graphs of the two
equations might intersect
we can see that there could
be two, one or no pairs of
solutions.

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One linear and one quadratic equation

If the second equation contains terms in xy or y2 the shape

of the corresponding graph will not be a parabola but a
circle, a hyperbola or an ellipse:
A line and a A line and a A line and an
circle hyperbola ellipse

Again we can have two, one or no pairs of solutions.

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One linear and one quadratic equation

When a pair of simultaneous equations contains one linear

and one quadratic equation, we usually solve them by
substitution. For example:
Solve: y = x2 + 1 1
y=x+3 2

Substituting equation 1 into equation 2 gives

x2 + 1 = x + 3
Rearranging to give a quadratic equation of the form
ax2 + bx + c = 0 gives
x2 – x – 2 = 0
(x + 1)(x – 2) = 0
x = –1 or x=2
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One linear and one quadratic equation

We can substitute these values of x into one of the equations

y = x2 + 1 1
y=x+3 2

to find the corresponding values of y.

It is easiest to substitute into equation 2 because it is linear.

When x = –1: When x = 2:
y = –1 + 3 y=2+3
y=2 y=5
The solutions are x = –1, y = 2 and x = 2, y = 5.

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One linear and one quadratic equation

y
y = x2 + 1

We can demonstrate y=x+3

the solutions to
y = x2 + 1 (2, 5)
y=x+3 (–1, 2)

using a graph.
0 x

It is difficult to sketch a parabola accurately. For this reason, it

is difficult to solve simultaneous equations with quadratic terms
using graphs, particularly when the solutions are not integers.

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One linear and one quadratic equation

Look at this pair of simultaneous equations:

y–x=1 1
x2 + y2 = 13 2

What shape is the graph given by x2 + y2 = 13?

The graph of x2 + y2 = 13 is a circular graph with its centre at

the origin and a radius of 13 .
We can solve this pair of simultaneous equations algebraically
using substitution.
We can then sketch the graphs of the equations to demonstrate
where they intersect.

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One linear and one quadratic equation

y–x=1 1
x2 + y2 = 13 2

Rearranging 1 gives y=x+1

Substituting into 2 gives x2 + (x + 1)2 = 13

x2 + x2 + 2x + 1 = 13
2x2 + 2x – 12 = 0
x2 + x – 6 = 0
(x + 3)(x – 2) = 0
x = –3 or x=2

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One linear and one quadratic equation

We can substitute these values of x into one of the equations

y=x+1 1

x2 + y2 = 13 2

to find the corresponding values of y.

It is easiest to substitute into equation 1 because it is linear.

When x = –3: When x = 2:
y = –3 + 1 y=2+1
y = –2 y=3
The solutions are x = –3, y = –2 and x = 2, y = 3.

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One linear and one quadratic equation

Demonstrating these solutions graphically gives:

y
x2 + y2 = 13 y=x+1

(2, 3)

0 x
(–3, –2)

The graphs intersect at the points (–3, –2) and (2, 3).

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Using the discriminant

In summary, to solve a pair of simultaneous equations where

one equation is linear and the other is quadratic:
Rearrange the linear equation so that one of the
variables is written in terms of the other.
Substitute the linear equation into the quadratic equation
to give a single equation of the form ax2 + bx + c = 0.
We can find the determinant of this equation to find how
many times the line and the curve will intersect. When
b2 – 4ac > 0, there are two distinct points of intersection.
b2 – 4ac = 0, there is one point of intersection (or two
coincident points). The line is a tangent to the curve.
b2 – 4ac < 0, there are no points of intersection.
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Using the discriminant

Show that the line y – 4x + 7 = 0 is a

tangent to the curve y = x2 – 2x + 2.

Call these equations and 2 .

1
y – 4x + 7 = 0 1
y = x2 – 2x + 2 2
Rearranging 1 gives y = 4x – 7
Substituting into 2 gives 4x – 7 = x2 – 2x + 2
x2 – 6x + 9 = 0
The discriminant = b2 – 4ac = (–6)2 – 4(9)
= 36 – 36
=0
b2 – 4ac = 0 and so the line is a tangent to the curve.
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 Linear inequalities

Linear simultaneous equations

Simultaneous equations involving one linear and
Contents

one quadratic equation

Linear inequalities
Quadratic inequalities
Polynomials
Examination-style questions

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Linear inequalities

An inequality links two or more expressions with

the symbols: <, >, ≤ or ≥.

Inequalities are linear if the expressions they contain can be

written in the form ax + b where a and b are constants.
For example:
3x + 2 > 5
Solving this inequality involves finding the values of x that
make the inequality true.
In this example, the inequality is true when x > 1.
The solution can be illustrated using a number line as follows:

–3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5
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Solving linear inequalities

Like an equation, we can solve an inequality by adding or

subtracting the same value to both sides of the inequality sign.

We can also multiply or divide both sides of the inequality by

a positive value. For example:

Solve 4x – 7 > 11 – 2x.

Add 7 to both sides: 4x > 18 – 2x

Add 2x to both sides: 6x > 18
Divide both sides by 6: x>3

How could we check this solution?

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Checking solutions

To verify that x>3

is the solution to 4x – 7 > 11 – 2x
substitute a value just above 3 into the inequality and then
substitute a value just below 3.
Substituting x = 4 into the inequality gives
4 × 4 – 7 > 11 – 2 × 4
16 – 7 > 11 – 8
9>3 This is true.
Substituting x = 2 into the inequality gives
4 × 2 – 7 > 11 – 2 × 2
8 – 7 > 11 – 4
1>7 This is not true.
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Multiplying or dividing by negatives

Although most inequalities can be solved like equations we

have to take great care when multiplying or dividing both sides
of an inequality by a negative value.

The following simple inequality is true:

–3 < 5
Look what happens if we multiply both sides by –1:
–3 × –1 < 5 × –1
3 < –5 This is not true.
To keep the inequality true we have to reverse the inequality
sign:
3 > –5

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Multiplying or dividing by negatives

Remember: when both sides of an inequality are multiplied

or divided by a negative number the inequality is reversed.

For example: 4 – 3x ≤ 10
–3x ≤ 6
x ≥ –2 The inequality sign is reversed.
We could also solve this type of inequality by collecting x terms
on the right and reversing the inequality sign at the end.
4 – 3x ≤ 10
4 ≤ 10 + 3x
–6 ≤ 3x
–2 ≤ x
x ≥ –2
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Solving combined linear inequalities

The two inequalities 4x + 3 ≥ 5 and 4x + 3 < 15 can be written

as a single combined inequality:

5 ≤ 4x + 3 < 15
We can solve this inequality as follows:
Subtract 3 from each part: 2 ≤ 4x < 12
Divide each part by 4: 0.5 ≤ x < 3
We can illustrate this solution on a number line as follows:

–1 –0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4

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Solving combined linear inequalities

Some combined inequalities contain variables in more than

one part. For example:
x – 2 ≤ 3x + 2 ≤ 2x + 7
Treat this as two separate inequalities:
x – 2 ≤ 3x + 2 and 3x + 2 ≤ 2x + 7
– 2 ≤ 2x + 2 x+2≤7
– 4 ≤ 2x x≤5
–2≤x
We can write the complete solution as –2 ≤ x ≤ 5 and
illustrate it on a number line as follows:

–3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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Overlapping solutions

Solve the following inequality and illustrate the solution on a

number line:
2x – 1 ≤ x + 2 < 7
Treating as two separate inequalities gives
2x – 1 ≤ x + 2 and x+2<7
x–1≤2 x<5
x≤3
If x < 5 then it is also ≤ 3. The whole solution set is therefore
given by x < 5. This can be seen on the number line:

–3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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Solutions in two parts

Solve the following inequality and illustrate the solution on a

number line:
4x + 5 < 3x + 5 ≤ 4x + 3
Treating as two separate inequalities gives
4x + 5 < 3x + 5 and 3x + 5 ≤ 4x + 3
4x < 3x 5≤x+3
x<0 2≤x
x≥2
We cannot write these solutions as a single combined
inequality. The solution has two parts.

–3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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 Quadratic inequalities

Linear simultaneous equations

Simultaneous equations involving one linear and
Contents

one quadratic equation

Linear inequalities
Quadratic inequalities
Polynomials
Examination-style questions

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Quadratic inequalities

Quadratic inequalities contain terms in both x2 and x. For

example:
x2 + x – 6 ≥ 0
Factorizing gives (x + 3)(x – 2) ≥ 0

x2 + x – 6 is equal to 0 when:
x+3=0 and x–2=0
x = –3 x=2
These values give the end points of the solution set:

–5 –4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5

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Quadratic inequalities

To find the solution set we can substitute a value from each of

the following three regions:

region 1 region 2 region 3

–5 –4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5
into the original inequality x2 + x – 6 ≥ 0.
When x = –4: –42 + –4 – 6 ≥ 0
16 – 4 – 6 ≥ 0
6≥0
This is true and so values in region 1 satisfy the inequality.

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Quadratic inequalities

When x = 0 02 + 0 – 6 ≥ 0
–6 ≥ 0
This is not true and so values in region 2 do not satisfy the
inequality.
region 1 region 2 region 3

–5 –4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5
When x = 3 32 + 3 – 6 ≥ 0
9+3–6≥0
6≥0
This is true and so values in region 3 satisfy the inequality.

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Quadratic inequalities

We have shown that values in region 1 and region 3 satisfy the

inequality x2 + x – 6 ≥ 0.

region 1 region 2 region 3

–5 –4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5

We can show the complete solution set as follows:

–5 –4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5
So the solution to x2 + x – 6 ≥ 0 is:
x ≤ –3 or x≥2
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Quadratic inequalities

An alternative method for solving inequalities involves using

graphs. For example:

Solve x2 + x – 3 > 4x + 1.

The first step is to rearrange the inequality so that all the terms
are on one side and 0 is on the other.
x2 – 3x – 4 > 0
Sketching the graph of y = x2 – 3x – 4 will help us to solve this
inequality.
The coefficient of x2 > 0 and so the graph will be -shaped.

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Quadratic inequalities

Next, we find the roots by solving x2 – 3x – 4 = 0.

Factorizing gives (x + 1)(x – 4) = 0
x = –1 or x=4

We can now sketch the graph. y

The inequality
(–1, 0) (4, 0)
x2 – 3x – 4 > 0
0 x
is true for the parts of the
curve that lie above the
x-axis.
So, the solution to x2 + x – 3 > 4x + 1 is
x < –1 or x>4
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Solving quadratic inequalities using graphs

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 Polynomials

Linear simultaneous equations

Simultaneous equations involving one linear and
Contents

one quadratic equation

Linear inequalities
Quadratic inequalities
Polynomials
Examination-style questions

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Polynomials

A polynomial in x is an expression of the form

ax n + bx n1 + cx n2 +...+ px 2 + qx + r
where a, b, c, … are constant coefficients and
n is a positive integer.

The value of a is called the leading coefficient.

Examples of polynomials include:
3x7 + 4x3 – x + 8 x11 – 2x8 + 9x and 5 + 3x2 – 2x3.
Polynomials are usually written in descending powers of x.
They can also be written in ascending powers of x, especially
when the leading coefficient is negative, as in the last example.

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Polynomials

The degree, or order, of a polynomial is given by the highest

power of the variable.

A polynomial of degree 1 is called linear and has the

general form ax + b.

A polynomial of degree 2 is called quadratic and has the

general form ax2 + bx + c.

A polynomial of degree 3 is called cubic and has the

general form ax3 + bx2 + cx + d.

A polynomial of degree 4 is called quartic and has the

general form ax4 + bx3 + cx2 + dx + e.

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Using function notation

Polynomials are often expressed using function notation.

For example, consider the polynomial function:
f(x) = 2x2 – 7
We can use this notation to substitute given values of x.
For example:

Find f(x) when a) x = –2 b) x = t + 1

a) f(–2) = 2(–2)2 – 7 b) f(t + 1) = 2(t + 1)2 – 7

=8–7 = 2(t2 + 2t + 1) – 7
=1 = 2t2 + 4t + 2 – 7
= 2t2 + 4t – 5
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Adding and subtracting polynomials

When two or more polynomials are added, subtracted or

multiplied, the result is another polynomial.
Polynomials are added and subtracted by collecting like
terms.
For example: f(x) = 2x3 – 5x + 4 and g(x) = 2x – 4

Find a) f(x) + g(x) b) f(x) – g(x)

a) f(x) + g(x) b) f(x) – g(x)

= 2x3 – 5x + 4 + 2x – 4 = 2x3 – 5x + 4 – (2x – 4)
= 2x3 – 3x = 2x3 – 5x + 4 – 2x + 4
= 2x3 – 7x + 8
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Multiplying polynomials

When two polynomials are multiplied together every term in the

first polynomial must by multiplied by every term in the second
polynomial. For example:

f(x) = 3x3 – 2 and g(x) = x3 + 5x – 1

f(x)g(x) = (3x3 – 2)(x3 + 5x – 1)

= 3x6 + 15x4 – 3x3 – 2x3 – 10x + 2

= 3x6 + 15x4 – 5x3 – 10x + 2

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Multiplying polynomials

Sometimes we only need to find the coefficient of a single term.

For example:

Find the coefficient of x2 when x3 – 4x2 + 2x

is multiplied by 2x3 + 5x2 – x – 6.

We don’t need to multiply this out in full. We only need to

decide which terms will multiply together to give terms in x2.

(x3 – 4x2 + 2x)(2x3 + 5x2 – x – 6)

We have: 24x2 – 2x2

= 22x2
So, the coefficient of x2 is 22.
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 Examination-style questions

Linear simultaneous equations

Simultaneous equations involving one linear and
Contents

one quadratic equation

Linear inequalities
Quadratic inequalities
Polynomials
Examination-style questions

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Examination-style question 1

a) Solve the simultaneous equations

x – 2y = 2
x2 + 4y2 = 100
b) Interpret your solution geometrically.

a) Label the equations

x – 2y = 2 1

x2 + 4y2 = 100 2

Rearranging equation 1

x = 2 + 2y
Substituting into equation 2

(2 + 2y)2 + 4y2 = 100

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Examination-style question 1

4 + 8y + 4y2 + 4y2 = 100

8y2 + 8y – 96 = 0
y2 + y – 12 = 0
(y + 4)(y – 3) = 0
y = –4 or y=3
Substituting into equation 1

When y = –4, x = –6
When y = 3, x = 8
b) The line x – 2y = 2 crosses the curve x2 + 4y2 = 100 at the
points (–4, –6) and (3, 8).

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Examination-style question 2

a) Write an expression for the area A of the following

rectangle:

x–2

x+2
b) If the area satisfies the inequality
5 < A < 12
find the range of possible values for
x.
a) A = (x + 2)(x – 2)
= x2 – 4
b) The range of possible values for x is given by
5 < x2 – 4 < 12
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Examination-style question 2

We have to solve 5 < x2 – 4 and then solve x2 – 4 < 12

5 < x2 – 4 x2 – 4 < 12
x2 – 9 > 0 x2 – 16 < 0
(x + 3)(x – 3) > 0 (x + 4)(x – 4) < 0
Sketching y = x2 – 9 Sketching y = x2 – 16
y y

(–3, 0) (3, 0) (–4, 0) (4, 0)

0 x 0 x

x2 – 9 > 0 when x < –3 or x > 3 x2 – 16 < 0 when –4 < x < 4

So the range of possible value for x is
3 < x < 4 (ignoring negative solutions)
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