EQUATIONS & INEQUALITIES – II

Solving Absolute Value Equations and Inequalities

The definition of absolute value of a real number (say x ) is :
LxM= x if x ≥ 0,
V
LM
@x if x<0

Properties of absolute values :

For every real number a, a>0
LxM= a if and only if x = a or x = @ a
LM
LM
LxM< a if and only if @ a < x < a
LM
LxM> a if and only if x > a or x < @ a

a LxM= 5, b Lx @ 3M= 7, c Lx + 2M> 7

` aL M ` aL M ` aL M
Example : Solve

Solution` : a L M
a LxM= 5,
x = 5 or x = @ 5 A
b x @ 3M= 7,
` aL M
L
x @3 =7 or x @3 =@7
x = 10 x =@4
c x + 2 >7
` aL M
L M
x + 2>7 or x + 2<@7
x >5 x <@9

Parametric Equations

This is discussed in the chapter : Coordinate Geometry.

 Radical Equations
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Equations containing radicals are called radical equations. As example q x 2 + 9 = x + 1.
In such cases we have to keep the radical part on one side and take the rest to the other
and then raise both sides to a suitable integer power so that the radical sign is removed.
The resulting equation is solved then. Before writing the solutions the solution set is to be
checked for correctness putting them in the original equation.
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Example : Solve q x 2 + 9 = x + 1

Solution w
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qx 2 + 9 =x +1 squaring both sides we get
x2 + 9 = x + 1
` a2

x 2 + 9 = x 2 + 2x + 1
2x = 8
x =4
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Example : Solve p x + 2 = x @ 4

Solution w
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px + 2 = x @ 4 squaring both sides we get
x + 2 = x @4
` a2

x + 2 = x 2 @ 8x + 16
x 2 @ 9xa`+ 14 =a 0
x @2 x @7 =0
`

x @2 =0 or x @7 =0
x =2 x =7
putting both values in originbal equation we see that
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p2 + 2 ≠ 2 @ 4 but p7 + 2 = 7 @ 4
So the solution is x = 7 A
 SYSTEM OF EQUATIONS
A system of equations consists of two or more equations (for more than one variable).
2x + y = 5, 3x @ y = 0 is an example of a system of linear equations of two variables. The
solution is an ordered assignment of values to the variables and when substituted in their
place, should satisfy all the equations.

Example : Verify if x = 1, y = @ 2 is a solution to the system

x 2 + y 2 = 5 and 2x + y = 0 .

Solution :
We assign numbers to the equations
x 2 + y2 = 5
` a
1
2x + y = 0
` a
2
Putting x = 1, y = @ 2 in equation 1 and 2 we get
` a ` a

1 + @2 =5
2 ` a2

2.1 + @ 2 = 0
` a

which are both true A So, x = 1, y = @ 2 is a solution to this system of equation A

Solving Systems of Linear Equations of more than one variables

A system of linear equation of more than one variables consists of more than one
equations. Ususally, the number of equations are same as the number of variables( i.e.
two equations for system of two variables, three equations for system of three variables
etc). As example : 2x + y = 5, 3x @ y = 0 is such a system of equations.

Depending on the number of solutions, system of linear equations can be divided in three
categories :
• Consistent and independent : Such systems have exactly one solution.
• Inconsistent : Such systems have no solution.
• Dependent : Such systems have infinite number of solutions.
Solutions of linear equations of such variables can be found by three methods.

1. Graphical method: This can be applied only for equations of two variables (not
for 3 or more variables). We draw the graph of the two given equations (each
equation gives us a graph of a straight line). If the straight lines intersect, we take
the coordinates of this point. The x-coordinate and the y-coordinate gives the
solution of the two variables. In this case the system has a unique solution. If the
lines coincide, the system is dependent, and it has infinite solutions. If the lines do
not intersect (if they are parallel), the system is inconsistent.

2. Elimination method: We apply operations on equations to eliminate one

variable. This gives us a linear equation of one less variable. This process is
continued till we get a linear equation of one variable only, which can be solved
easily. Substituting this solution in other equations, the solutions of the other
variables are found.

3. Substitution method: We solve one equation for one variable in terms of the
other variables. Substituting this expression in the other equation, we get one
linear equation of one less variable. This process is continued till we get a linear
equation of one variable only, which can be solved. We find the solution to this
variable, and substituting this solution of one variable in other equations, the
solution of the other variables are found.

Example: Solve the following system of equations (a) graphically, (b) by elimination, (c)
by substitution.
2x + y = 5
` a
1
3x @ 2y = @ 3
` a
2

Solution :
(a) We draw the graph of the two equations. The two straight lines appears to
intersect at the point (1,3). So x = 1, y = 3 is the solution.
 2x + y = 5
` a ` a
b 1
3x @ 2y = @ 3
` a
2
` a
multiplying equation 1 with 2 we get
4x + 2y = 10
` a
3
` a ` a
adding both sides of equation 2 and 3
7x = 7
x =1
substituting x = 1 in equation 1
` a

2.1 + y = 5
y=3
x = 1, y = 3 is the solution set A
` a ` a
c taking equation 1 we can write y in terms of x as
2x + y = 5
y = 5 @ 2x
` a
substituting this in equation 2
3x @ 2 5 @ 2x = @ 3
` a

3x @ 10 + 4x = @ 3
7x = 7
x =1
substituting x = 1 in equation 1
` a

2.1 + y = 5
y=3
x = 1, y = 3 is the solution set A

Example : Solve the following system of equations (a) by elimination, (b) by substitution.
x + y+ z=4
` a
1
3x @ 2y + 2z = 5
` a
2
2x @ 3y + 2z = 3
` a
3

Solution :
(a) By elimination method : ` a
x + y+ z=4 1
3x @ 2y + 2z = 5
` a
2
2x @ 3y + 2z = 3
` a
3
` a
multiplying equation 1 with 2 and 3 we get
2x + 2y + 2z = 8
` a
4
3x + 3y + 3z = 12
` a
5
` a ` a
adding equation 2 and 4
5x + 4z = 13
` a
6
` a ` a
adding equation 3 and 5
5x + 5z = 15
x + z=5
` a
7
` a ` a
Note that equations 6 and 7 are system of linear equations of two variables now A
Solving these further by the same process we get
x = 1, z = 2
substituting these values in equation 1 we get y = 1
` a

So, the solution is x = 1, y = 1, z = 2 A

(b) By substitution method :

` a ` a
c taking equation 1 we can write x in terms of y and z as
x + y+ z=4
x =4@y@z
` a ` a
substituting this in equation 2 and 3 we get
3x @ 2y + 2z = 5
3 4 @ y @ z @ 2y + 2z = 5
b c

12 @ 3y @ 3z @ 2y + 2z = 5
5y + z = 7
` a
4

2x @ 3y + 2z = 3
2 4 @ y @ z @ 3y + 2z = 3
b c

8 @ 2y @ 2z @ 3y + 2z = 3
5y = 5
y=1
substituting y = 1 in equation 4
` a

5.1 + z = 7
z=2
putting these values of y and z in 1 we get x + 1 + 2 = 4
` a

x =1
So, the solution is x = 1, y = 1, z = 2 A
Nonlinear Systems of Equations
A system of equations in which at least one equation is nonlinear, is a nonlinear system
of equations. Here we shall discuss nonlinear system of equations of two variables only.
It may have no solutions, infinite solutions, any number of real or complex solutions.

There are three methods of solving them, but in each system whatever solutions we may
get, it is to be substituted in the equations to check their correctness :

1. Graphical method : We draw the graph of each given equations. If the graphs
intersect, we take the coordinates of the points of intersection. The x-coordinate
and the y-coordinate gives the solution of the two variables. The number of points
of intersection gives us the number of solutions. It may have infinite solutions too.
If the graphs do not intersect, the system is inconsistent.
2. Elimination method : We apply operations on equations to eliminate one
variable. This gives us an equation of one variable, which may be solved.
Substituting this solution in any equation, the solutions of the other variable is
found.
3. Substitution method : We solve one equation for one variable in terms of the
other variable. Substituting this expression in the other equation, we get an
equation of one variable, which can be solved. We find the solution to this
varaible, and substituting this solution in other equation, the solution of the other
variable is found.
Example : Solve the system of equations :
x 2 + y 2 = 25
` a
1
3x @ 4y = 0
` a
2

Solution :
We shall try to use the substitution method here
` a
from equation 2 we express y in terms of x as :
3x @ 4y = 0
3x
ff
ff
ff
f
y=
4 ` a
susstituting this in 1 we get
g2
3x
f
f
ff
ff
f
f
x +
2
= 25
4
2
9x
f
f
ff
f
ff
fff
x2 + = 25
16
16x 2 + 9x 2 = 400
x 2 = 16
x =F 4
3.4
f
f
fff
f
ff
f
when x = + 4 then y = =3
4
` a
3f
f
fAf
ff
f@
f
ff
f
ff
f
f4f
f
ff
ff
ff
f
when x = @ 4 then y = =@3
4
` a ` a
putting both sets of values in equation 1 and 2 we find them correct
# The solution is x = 4, y = 3 and x = @ 4, y = @ 3 A
b c b c

Solving System of Linear Inequalities

A system of linear inequalities consists of more than one inequality relations. We have
earlier discussed how to solve more than one inequality relations when the variable is one
(the solution sets are usually one or more than one intervals of real numbers).

For a system of inequalities of two variables, we can solve them graphically and
represent the solution set in graph. Otherwise it is difficult to represent the solution set in
normal interval notations.
The method involves
1. Replace the “inequality (< or >)” symbol with an “equal to(=)” symbol thus
getting an equation. Draw the graph of the equation.
2. The curve divides the area of the Cartesian coordinate plane in two parts. Among
them, one part is the graph of the given inequality.
3. Take a point in one of the parts on the graph and substitute its coordinates in the
inequality. If it satisfies the inequality, shade that area. If not, shade the other
area. The shaded area is the graph of the inequality.
4. Draw the graphs of all the inequalities. The common area is the solution set. The
coordinates of any point in the common area will satisfy the system of
inequalities.

Example : Solve the system of linear inequalities 2x + y>5, x @ y<0 A

Solution :
We rewrite the system as
y > 5 @ 2x and y > x
For each inequality we replace the inequality sysmbol with = symbol and write the
equations as
y = 5 @ 2x
y=x
These are equations of straight lines which we draw A
We shade the sides whose points satisfy the inequality conditions A
The common area is the solution of the inequalities A