Equations and Inequalities

Introduction

This Chapter focuses on solving Equations and

Inequalities

It will also make use of the work we have done so

far on Quadratic Functions and graphs

Equations and Inequalities

Simultaneous Equations
You need to be able to solve Simultaneous
Equations by Elimination.
Remember that the 2 equations can also be
drawn on a graph, and the solutions are
where they cross.
However, this method is less accurate
when we start needing decimal/fractional
answers.
GENERAL RULE
If what youre cancelling have different
signs, add. If they have the SAME sign,
SUBTRACT!

Example
Solve the following Simultaneous
Equations by Elimination
1 2x 3y 8
2 3 x y 23

x3

2x 3y 8
9 x 3 y 69
Add

11x 77
x7
Substitute x
in to 2
2 3 x y 23

21 y 23
y 2

Equations and Inequalities

Simultaneous Equations
You need to be able to solve Simultaneous
Equations by Elimination.
Remember that the 2 equations can also be
drawn on a graph, and the solutions are
where they cross.
However, this method is less accurate
when we start needing decimal/fractional
answers.
GENERAL RULE
If what youre cancelling have different
signs, add. If they have the SAME sign,
SUBTRACT!

Example
Solve the following Simultaneous
Equations by Elimination
1 4x 5 y 4
2 6 x 2 y 25

x3
x2

12 x 15 y 12
12 x 4 y 50

Subtract

19 y 38
y2
Substitute
y in to 2
2 6 x 2 y 25

6 x 4 25
x 3.5

Equations and Inequalities

Example
Solve the following Simultaneous
Equations by Substitution

Simultaneous Equations
You need to be able to solve
Simultaneous Equations by
Substitution.
This involves using one equation to
write y in terms of x or vice versa.
This is then substituted into the other
equation.

1
2

Rearrange

2x y 1
4 x 2 y 30

y 2x 1

Replace the y in equation 2, with 2x 1

2 4 x 2 y 30

4x 2(2 x 1) 30

4 x 4 x 2 30

Replace y
Expand

8 x 2 30
8 x 28
x 3.5
y 8

Sub into 1 or 2

Equations and Inequalities

Simultaneous Equations
You will need the substitution
method when one of the equations
is quadratic.

Example
Solve the following Simultaneous
Equations by Substitution

x 2y 3
2
2 x 3 xy 10
1

You will end up with 0, 1 or 2

answers as with any Quadratic.
This means you will either get 0,
1 or 2 pairs of answers
Sub each value for y into
one of the equations
y = -1 /2

x 2y 3

x (1) 3
x4
x = 4, y = - /2
1

y = -1

x (2) 3
x5
x = 5, y = -1

Re-arrange

x 3 2y

Replace the x in equation 2, with 3 2y

2

x 2 3xy 10
(3 2 y ) 2 3 y (3 2 y ) 10

9 12 y 4 y 2 9 y 6 y 2 10
2 y 3 y 1 0
2

2 y2 3y 1 0

(2 y 1)( y 1) 0
1
y or y 1
2

Expand
Brackets
Simplify
Multiply
by -1
Factorise
Solve

Equations and Inequalities

Simultaneous Equations

Example

You will need the substitution

method when one of the equations
is quadratic.

Solve the following Simultaneous

Equations by Substitution

You will end up with 0, 1 or 2

answers as with any Quadratic.

Re-arrange

1 3x 2 y 1
2
2
2 x y 25

13 x 6 x 99 0
2

(13 x 33)( x 3) 0
33
x
or x 3
13

Factorise
Solve

3x 1
2

Replace the y in equation 2, with 3x 1/2

2 x y 25

This means you will either get 0,

1 or 2 pairs of answers

3 x 1
25
2

x2

9x2 6x 1
x
25
4
2

4 x 2 9 x 2 6 x 1 100
13x 2 6 x 99 0

Replace y
Square top and
bottom
separately
Multiply each
part by 4
Group on one
side

Equations and Inequalities

Simultaneous Equations
You will need the substitution
method when one of the equations
is quadratic.
You will end up with 0, 1 or 2
answers as with any Quadratic.

Example
Solve the following Simultaneous
Equations by Substitution
2 x y 25
2

x=

This means you will either get 0,

1 or 2 pairs of answers

33
x
or x 3
13

/13, y =

= -33

/13

-56

x = 3, y = 4

Re-arrange

1 3x 2 y 1

33
1
13

y
2

-33

/13

99

1
13

y
2

112

13

y
2
112
y
26

56
y
13

3x 1
2

3x 1
2

y
x=3

3 3 1
2

9 1
2

8
2

y4

Equations and Inequalities

Solving Inequalities
You need to be able to solve Linear
Inequalities, sometimes more than one
together.
An Inequality will give a range of
possible answers, rather than specific
values (like an Equation would).
You can solve them in the same way as
a Linear Equation.
Only difference: When you multiply or
divide by a negative, you must reverse
the sign
> <

Example
Find the set of values of x for
which:

2x 5 7
2x 5 7

Add 5

2 x 12
x6

Divide by 2

Equations and Inequalities

Solving Inequalities
You need to be able to solve Linear
Inequalities, sometimes more than one
together.
An Inequality will give a range of
possible answers, rather than specific
values (like an Equation would).
You can solve them in the same way as
a Linear Equation.
Only difference: When you multiply or
divide by a negative, you must reverse
the sign
> <

Example
Find the set of values of x for
which:

5 x 9 x 20
5 x 9 x 20
4 x 9 20
4 x 11
x 2.75

Subtract x
Subtract 9
Divide by 4

Equations and Inequalities

Solving Inequalities
You need to be able to solve Linear
Inequalities, sometimes more than one
together.
An Inequality will give a range of
possible answers, rather than specific
values (like an Equation would).
You can solve them in the same way as
a Linear Equation.
Only difference: When you multiply or
divide by a negative, you must reverse
the sign
> <

Example
Find the set of values of x for
which:

12 3 x 27
12 3 x 27
3 x 15
x 5
x 5

Subtract 12
Divide by 3
Multiply by -1
REVERSES THE
SIGN

Equations and Inequalities

Solving Inequalities
You need to be able to solve Linear
Inequalities, sometimes more than one
together.
An Inequality will give a range of
possible answers, rather than specific
values (like an Equation would).
You can solve them in the same way as
a Linear Equation.
Only difference: When you multiply or
divide by a negative, you must reverse
the sign
> <

Example
Find the set of values of x for
which:

3( x 5) 5 2( x 8)
3( x 5) 5 2( x 8)

3 x 15 5 2 x 16
5 x 15 21
5 x 36
x 7.2

Expand brackets
(careful with
negatives)
Add 2x and
group
Add 15
Divide by 5

Equations and Inequalities

Example
Find the set of values of x for
which:

Solving Inequalities
You need to be able to solve Linear
Inequalities, sometimes more than one
together.

3x 5 x 8

An Inequality will give a range of

Subtract
possible answers, rather than specific
x
values (like an Equation would).
You can solve them in the same way as
a Linear Equation.

3x 5 x 8

5x x 8

2x 5 8

4 x 8

Add 5

2 x 13

Divide
by 2

Subtract
x
Divide
by 4

x 2

x 6.5

Only difference: When you multiply or

divide by a negative, you must reverse
the sign
> <

5x x 8

and

x < 6.5

-4

-2

10
x > -2

2 x 6.5

Equations and Inequalities

Example
Find the set of values of x for
which:

Solving Inequalities
You need to be able to solve Linear
Inequalities, sometimes more than one
together.
An Inequality will give a range of
possible answers, rather than specific
values (like an Equation would).

x 5 1 x
x 5 1 x
Add x

15 5 5x

2x 6

Divide
by 2

-4
x<2

-2

Divide
by 5

2x

10

Add 3x
Minus 5

10 5x

x3

Only difference: When you multiply or

divide by a negative, you must reverse
the sign
> <

15 3 x 5 2 x

2x 5 1

Add 5

You can solve them in the same way as

a Linear Equation.

15 3 x 5 2 x

and

x>3

No answers that work for both

Equations and Inequalities

Example
Find the set of values of x for
which:

Solving Inequalities
You need to be able to solve Linear
Inequalities, sometimes more than one
together.
An Inequality will give a range of
possible answers, rather than specific
values (like an Equation would).
You can solve them in the same way as
a Linear Equation.
Only difference: When you multiply or
divide by a negative, you must reverse
the sign

4x 7 3
Subtract
7

and

4x 7 3

17 11 2x

4 x 4

Divide by
4

6 2x

x 1

-4

-2

17 11 2x

Divide
by 2

3 x

> <

x3

Subtract
11

10

x > -1
x>3

Equations and Inequalities

Quadratic Inequalities

To solve a Quadratic Inequality, you

need to:
1) Solve the Quadratic Equation
2) Sketch a graph of the Equation
3) Decide which is the required set
of values

Example
Find the set of values of x for
which:

x2 4 x 5 0

x2 4 x 5 0

Factorise

( x 1)( x 5) 0
Remember that the solutions are
where the graph crosses the x-axis

x 1 or x 5
y

The graph will be u-shaped.

Where it crosses the y-axis does
not matter for this topic
Then think about which area
satisfies the original inequality

1 x 5

-1

We want values below 0

Equations and Inequalities

Quadratic Inequalities
To solve a Quadratic Inequality, you
need to:
1) Solve the Quadratic Equation
2) Sketch a graph of the Equation

Example
Find the set of values of x for
which:

x2 4 x 5 0

x2 4 x 5 0

3) Decide which is the required set

of values

Factorise

( x 1)( x 5) 0

x 1 or x 5
Remember that the solutions are
where the graph crosses the x-axis

Separate
sections mean
separate
inequalities

The graph will be u-shaped.

Where it crosses the y-axis does
not matter for this topic
Then think about which area
satisfies the original inequality

x 1 or x 5

-1

We want values above 0

Equations and Inequalities

Quadratic Inequalities
To solve a Quadratic Inequality,
you need to:
1) Solve the Quadratic Equation
2) Sketch a graph of the Equation

Example
Find the set of values of x for
which:

3 5x 2 x2 0

3 5x 2 x2 0
2 x2 5x 3 0

3) Decide which is the required set

of values

Remember that the solutions

are where the graph crosses the xaxis

Multiply by
-1
Factorise

(2 x 1)( x 3) 0
x 0.5 or x 3
y

The graph will be n-shaped,

looking at the original equation
Then think about which area
satisfies the original inequality

x 3 or x 0.5

-3

We want values below 0

0.5

Summary

We have looked at solving Simultaneous Equations,

including Quadratics

We have seen how to solve Inequalities

We have seen how to use graphs to solve Quadratic

Inequalities

Chapter 4 (sketching curves)