UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS LECTURE NOTES

MATH AND PHYSICS DEPARTMENT SYSTEMS OF LINEAR EQUATIONS

SYSTEMS OF LINEAR EQUATIONS LESSON 1: SOLUTIONS OF SYSTEMS OF LINEAR

EQUATIONS
LESSON 1: SYSTEMS OF LINEAR EQUATIONS
A. GRAPHICAL METHOD
DEFINITION: Graph the 2 given equation to get their point of
intersection.

A system of linear equations in two variables x

𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑏1 𝑦 = 𝑐1
and y is of the form { where a1,
𝑎2 𝑥 + 𝑏2 𝑦 = 𝑐2 EXAMPLES
Solve the following system of equation by graphing.
a2, b1 and b2 are real numbers.
 y  x  3
1.) 
 y  x  2
SOLUTION:
 A system of equations is a collection of 2 or Find the intercepts of each line:
more equations each containing one or more L1 : y   x  3
x-intercept: x=3  Plot the point (3,0)
variables.
y-intercept: y=3  Plot the point (0,3)

 To solve a system of linear equations in two L2 : y   x  2

variables x and y means to find all points (x,y) x-intercept: x=-2  Plot the point (-2,0)
y-intercept: y=-2  Plot the point (0,-2)
that satisfy both equations.

 Graphically, this means finding all points

common to both the two lines.

There 3 kinds of systems of linear equations.

KINDS OF SYSTEMS OF LINEAR EQUATIONS

Graph No. of Solution Set
solutions
Inconsistent Parallel 0 SS:{}
lines
Consistent/ Coincident Infinitely SS:{(x,y)|
The lines are parallel.
Dependent lines many y=mx+b} Hence, there is NO point of intersection.
Consistent/ Intersecting 1 SS: (x,y)
Solution set is {}.
Independent lines
INCONSISTENT

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 UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS
MATH AND PHYSICS DEPARTMENT
y  x  2  0
2.)  3.)
3 y  3x  6
SOLUTION:
Find the intercepts of each line:
L1 : y  x  2  0
x-intercept: x=-2  Plot the point (-2,0)
y-intercept: y=2  Plot the point (0,2)
L2 : 3 y  3x  6
x-intercept: x=-2  Plot the point (-2,0)
y-intercept: y=2  Plot the point (0,2)
The lines are coinciding.
They intersect at infinitely many points.
Solution set is {(x,y)| y – x – 2 =0}.
DEPENDENT
LECTURE NOTES
SYSTEMS OF LINEAR EQUATIONS
y  x  3

 x  2 y
SOLUTION:
Find the intercepts of each line:
L1 : y  x  3
x-intercept: x=3  Plot the point (3,0)
y-intercept: y=3  Plot the point (0,3)
L2 : x  2 y
x-intercept: x=0  Plot the point (0,0)
y-intercept: y=0  Plot the point (0,0)
Look for another point on the line.
If x=2, y=-1.  Plot the point (2,-1)
The lines are intersecting at exactly one point.
Solution set is {(6,-3)}
INDEPENDENT
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 UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS LECTURE NOTES
MATH AND PHYSICS DEPARTMENT SYSTEMS OF LINEAR EQUATIONS

PRACTICE: 2𝑦 = −𝑥
3.) {
Solve the following system of equation by graphing. 𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 6
Write the solution set and classify as to inconsistent,
dependent or independent.
2𝑥 + 2𝑦 = −6
1.) {
5𝑥 − 5𝑦 = −15

2𝑥 − 𝑦 = 4
2𝑦 + 𝑥 + 4 = 0 4.) {
2.) { 4𝑥 − 8 = 2𝑦
−𝑥 + 2𝑦 = −8

3|College Algebra
 UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS LECTURE NOTES
MATH AND PHYSICS DEPARTMENT SYSTEMS OF LINEAR EQUATIONS

B. ALGEBRAIC METHODS: ELIMINATION AND SOLUTION:

SUBSTITUTION
Using Equation1:
SUBSTITUTION METHOD 9x
9 x  2 y  0  2 y  9 x  y 
Solve for one of the variables in terms of the other 2
variable in one equation and substitute the Substitute to Equation 2:
expression obtained into the other equation.   9x 
3x  5 y  17  3x  5   17
 2 
EXAMPLES 45 x
 3x   17
Solve the system of equations by substitution. Write 2
the solutions set and classify as to inconsistent,  45 x 
 2 3x   17 
dependent or independent.  2 
 x  2 y  1  6x  45x  34
1.) 
2 x  3 y  12  51x  34
SOLUTION: 34 2
 x 
51 3
Using Equation1: x  2 y  1  x  2 y  1 Substituting to the equation 1 to get x:
Substitute to Equation 2: 9x 92 / 3
y  y  3
2 2 y  1  3 y  12 2 2
 4 y  2  3 y  12
 7 y  14 Hence, the solution is {(2/3, -3)}.
INDEPENDENT
y  2
Substituting to the equation 1 to get x:
x  2 y  1 ELIMINATION METHOD
x  2 2   1 The idea is to multiply one or both of the equations by a nonzero
x3 real number so that one of the variables has the same
coefficient in both equations but different in signs. We can then
Hence, the solution is {(3, -2)}. add the second equation from the first to eliminate one variable,
INDEPENDENT thus obtaining an equation involving only one variable.

8 x  10 y  2
1.)  EXAMPLES
4 x  5 y  5 Solve the system of equations by elimination method.
SOLUTION: Write the solutions set and classify as to inconsistent,
dependent or independent.
Using Equation1: 8x  10 y  2  8x  2  10 y
2  10 y
 x
8  x  2 y  1
1.) 
Substitute to Equation 2: 2 x  3 y  12
 2  10 y  SOLUTION:
4   5y  5
 8  Suppose we want to eliminate the variable x, we can
 8  40 y  multiply the first equation by -2 so that the variable x
   5y  5 will have the coefficient -2 and 2, respectively.
 8 
 2x  2 y  1  2 x  4 y  2
1 5y  5y  5  
5 y  5 y  5  1  2 x  3 y  12  2 x  3 y  12
Adding the two equations gives us,
0  6  False statement. Cannot be true.
2 x  4 y  2
No solution. INCONSISTENT 2 x  3 y  12
 7 y  14
9 x  2 y  0 y  2
2.) 
3x  5 y  17

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 UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS LECTURE NOTES
MATH AND PHYSICS DEPARTMENT SYSTEMS OF LINEAR EQUATIONS

Suppose we want to eliminate the variable y, we can  3x  4  16

multiply the first equation by 3 and the second equation  3x  12
by 2 so that the variable y will have the coefficient 6  x4
and -6, respectively.
3x  2 y  1 3x  6 y  3 The solution is {(4,-1)}
 
22 x  3 y  12 4 x  6 y  24
INDEPENDENT
Adding the two equations gives us, PRACTICE
3 x  6 y  3 Solve the system of equations by elimination method.
4 x  6 y  24 Write the solutions set and classify as to inconsistent,
7 x  21 dependent or independent.
x3
−17 − 5𝑦 − 11𝑥 = 0
Hence, the solution is {(3, -2)}. 1.) {
−15 = 9𝑥 + 4𝑦
INDEPENDENT
3𝑥 = 2𝑦 + 22
3 y  2 x  6 2.) {
 2(𝑥 + 𝑦) = 𝑥 − 2𝑦 − 2
4 x  6 y  12
1 3
SOLUTION: − =7
𝑥−2 𝑦+1
3.) { −3 16
To eliminate x, multiply by equation 1 by 2. ∓ = 28
𝑥−2 𝑦+1
3 y  2 x  6  2 x  3 y  6
  
4 x  6 y  12 4 x  6 y  12 3𝑟 + 2𝑠 + 3𝑡 = 23
2 2 x  3 y  6 4.) {−𝑟 − 4𝑠 + 4𝑡 = −21
 
4 x  6 y  12 3𝑟 + 𝑠 − 𝑡 = 19
 4 x  6 y  12
  −𝑥 + 2𝑧 = −9
4 x  6 y  12 5.) { −𝑥 − 3𝑦 − 4𝑧 = 2
4 x  6 y  12 −3𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 2𝑧 = 17
 (add the equations)
4 x  6 y  12
 00

This is ALWAYS TRUE.

Hence, there are infinitely many solutions.
SS: {(x,y)| 3y – 2x =6}
DEPENDENT

3x  4 y  16

5x  6 y  14

SOLUTION:
To eliminate x, multiply the first equation by 5 and the
nd
2 equation by -3.
3x  4 y  16 53x  4 y  16
  
5 x  6 y  14  35 x  6 y  14
53x  4 y  16

 35 x  6 y  14
15 x  20 y  80
 (add the equations)
 15 x  18 y  42
 38 y  38
 y  1
Substitute to one of the equations,
3x  4 y  16  3x  41  16

5|College Algebra
 UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS LECTURE NOTES
MATH AND PHYSICS DEPARTMENT SYSTEMS OF LINEAR EQUATIONS

C. CRAMER’S RULE FOR 2 VARIABLES 88  4 84

 x 
a x  b1 y  c1 12  2 14
The system of equation  1 has a  x6
a 2 x  b2 y  c2
unique solution
c1 b1 y
a1c 2  a 2 c1
 y
32  122
a1b2  a 2 b1 34  1 2
c 2 b2 c b  c 2 b1
x  1 2 and 6  22 28
a1 b1 a1b2  a 2 b1  y 
12  2 14
a 2 b2  y  2
a1 c1
a2 c2 a1c 2  a 2 c1 The solution is {(6,-2)}.
y 
a1 b1 a1b2  a 2 b1
CRAMER’S RULE FOR 3 VARIABLES
a2 b2
provided that D  a1b2  a2 b1  0 a1 x  b1 y  c1 z  d1

The solution to the system a 2 x  b2 y  c 2 z  d 2 is
a x  b y  c z  d
 3 3 3 3

a x  b1 y  c1 Dx Dy Dz
 The system  1 is either given by x ,y  ,z  where
a 2 x  b2 y  c2 D D D
dependent or inconsistent when the a1 b1 c1 d1 b1 c1
determinant of the coefficient is zero. i.e,
D  a2 b2 c2 Dx  d 2 b2 c2
D  a1b2  a2 b1  0 .
a3 b3 c3 d3 b3 c3
a1 d1 c1 a1 b1 d1
EXAMPLES
Solve the following system by the Cramer’s rule. D y  a2 d2 c2 Dz  a2 b2 d2
a3 d3 c3 a3 b3 d3
5 x  9 y  7 provided that D  0
1.) 
 8 x  10 y  2

x
c1b2  c 2 b1
 x
710  29 Example:
a1b2  a 2 b1 5 10   8 9
Solve the following system of linear equations using
70  18 88 Cramer’s rule.
 x 
50  72  22
 x  4 6𝑥 − 6𝑦 − 4𝑧 = −10
{−5𝑥 + 4𝑦 − 𝑧 = −12
y
a1c 2  a 2 c1
 y
52  87 2𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 2𝑦 = 9
a1b2  a 2 b1 510   8 9
10  56 66 Evaluating each:
 y 
50  72  22
6 −6 −4
 y  3
𝐷 = |−5 4 −1| = 134
2 3 −2
The solution is {(-4, -3)}.
−10 −6 −4
3x  2 y  22 3x  2 y  22 𝐷𝑥 = |−12 4 −1| = 536
2.)   
2x  y   x  2 y  2
9 3 −2
 x  4 y  2
6 −10 −4
c b  c 2 b1
x 1 2  x
224  22 𝐷𝑦 = |−5 −12 −1| = 402
a1b2  a 2 b1 34  1 2 2 9 −2

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 UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS LECTURE NOTES
MATH AND PHYSICS DEPARTMENT SYSTEMS OF LINEAR EQUATIONS

6 −6 −10 Using elimination,

𝐷𝑧 = |−5 4 −12| = 536 34 x  5 y  190  12 x  15 y  570
2 3 9
43x  4 y  147  12 x  16 y  588
Hence, y  18  y  18

𝐷𝑥 536 4 x  5 y  190  4 x  518  190

𝑥= = =4  4 x  90  190
𝐷 134
 4 x  190  90
𝐷𝑦 402  4 x  100
𝑦= = =3  x  25
𝐷 134
Final answer:
𝐷𝑧 536
𝑧= = =4
𝐷 134 An orange costs P25 while an apple costs P18

PRACTICE 2.) Admission ticket to a stage play were priced at P400

but discounted at P300 for students. If 810 tickets
Solve the following using Cramer’s Rule. were sold and the total receipts were P285,300,
how many of each type were sold?
x  3y  7
1.)  SOLUTION:
 3x  16 y  28 Let x = no. of regular tickets sold
9 x  2 y  0 y = no. of discounted tickets sold
2.) 
3x  5 y  17
 5a  b  3c  17 Equations:
 x  y  810
3.)  2a  b  6c  1
 6a  b  3c  14 400 x  300 y  285300

2 y  2 z  6 Using equation 1: x  y  810  y  810  x

4.)  6 x  5 y  2 z  12
 4 x  y  z  1 Using equation 2:

400 x  300810  x   285300
400x  243000  300x  285300
100x  285300  243000
100 x  423000
APPLICATIONS OF SYSTEM OF LINEAR EQUATIONS
x  423
EXAMPLES Substituting to equation 1:

1.) Four oranges and five apples cost P190. Three y  810  x  810  423  y  387
oranges and four apples cost P147. Find the cost of
an orange and the cost of an apple.
Final Answer:
SOLUTION:
423 regular tickets were sold and 387 discounted
tickets
Let x = cost of 1 orange
y = cost of 1 apple

Equations:
4 x  5 y  190
3x  4 y  147

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 UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS LECTURE NOTES
MATH AND PHYSICS DEPARTMENT SYSTEMS OF LINEAR EQUATIONS

PRACTICE:

Solve completely.

1.) Emman and Eric went to JAH-LIBBY to buy french-

fries and hamburgers. Emman bought 7
hamburgers and 5 French fries for P391.00. Eric
bought 5 hamburgers and 7 French fries for
P437.00. What is the cost of each French fries and
each hamburger?

2.) At a high school championship basketball game

1200 tickets were sold. Student tickets cost $1.50
each and adult tickets cost $5.00 each. The total
revenue collected for the game was $3200. How
many student tickets were sold? How many adult
tickets were sold?

3.) In a factory, there are three polishing machines, A,

B and C. When all three of them are working, 5700
lenses can be polished in one week. When only A
and B are working, 3900 lenses can be polished in
one week. When only B and C are working, 4200
lenses can be polished in one week. How many
lenses can be polished in a week by each machine?

4.) A candy store owner wants to pack a mixture of

50kg of candies into one bag worth P431 in
preparation for the Halloween. He has three
different kind of candies to choose from: Holes
worth P8.40 per kg, Minthos worth P8.80 per kg,
and Foxx worth P9.00 per kg. If he wants the
amount of Holes to be three times as many as Foxx.
How many of each kind should be put in the bag?

8|College Algebra