Unit 3 Systems of Equations

Name: _______________________
Period: ______________________

Section 3.1 Solving Linear Systems by Graphing

Objective(s): Solve a system of linear equations in two variables using graphing.

Essential Question: Explain how to tell from a graph of a system of linear equations if it will have one
solution, no solution, or infinitely many solutions.

Homework: Assignment 3.1. #1 15 in the homework packet.

Notes:

Vocabulary
A system of equations in two variables x and y consists of two equations.
A solution of a system of two equations in two variables is an ordered pair that makes both equations
true.

Checking to See if an Ordered Pair is a Solution

1. Substitute the ordered pair into both equations.
2. If the ordered pair is a solution to both equations, then it is a solution to the system of
equations.
Determine whether the ordered pair is a solution of the system of linear equations.
Example 1:

2 x y 2
x y 4

2, 2 ,

Example 2:

4 x y 1
2 x 4 y 10

1, 3 ,

Solving a System of Equations by Graphing

1. Graph both equations of the same set of axes.
2. Find the point of intersection.

Reflection:

Ex: Solve the system by graphing:

2x y 2
x y4

Step One: Graph both equations on the same

coordinate plane.

Step Two: Find the coordinates of the point of

intersection of the two lines.
The lines appear to intersect at the point 2, 2 .
Solve the system by graphing.
Example 3:

x y 3
x 4y 2

Example 4:

Example 5:

6 x 2 y 8
3 x y 7

Example 6:

Reflection:

x y 2
x y 12

x 2 y 2
3x 6 y 6

Special Cases

If the graphs of the equations in a system are parallel (do not intersect), then the system has NO
SOLUTION. Systems with no solution are called inconsistent.
If the graphs of the equations in a system are the same line (coincident), then the system has
INFINITELY MANY SOLUTIONS. Systems with infinite solutions are called dependent.
Systems with solutions are called consistent.

Tell if the system is inconsistent, the equations are dependent, or consistent.

Example 7:

x 2y 8
3 x 6 y 24

Example 8:

6 x 3 y 12
2 x y 8

Besides graphing, what is another way to tell if lines are parallel?

Parallel lines have the _________________ slope and _______________ y-intercepts.
How can you tell the slope of a line if the equation is in standard form?

Does the system have one solution, no solution, or an infinite number of solutions?

Example 9:

Reflection:

4 x 16 y 12
1
3
y x
4
4

Example 10:

6x y 6
x 2 y 14

Section 3.2 Solving Linear Systems Algebraically

Objective(s): Solve a system of linear equations in two variables using substitution and linear
combinations. Solve application problems involving systems of equations.

Essential Question: When choosing a method for solving a system of equations, when would you use
linear combinations, and when would you use substitution?

Homework: Assignment 3.2. #16 27 in the homework packet.

Notes:

Solving a System of Linear Equations by Substitution:

Ex: Solve the system

3 x 5 y 27
by substitution.
x 4 y 8

Step One: Since x and -4y 8 are EQUAL, one

can replace the other. Substitute -4y 8 into
the first equation replacing x. Solve.

3 4 y 8 5 y 27
12 y 24 5 y 27
17 y 51
y 3

Step Two: Substitute the value from Step One

into either of the original equations and solve
for the remaining variable.
Step Three: Write your answer as an ordered
pair and check in both of the original equations.

x 4 3 8
x4

3x 5 y 27 3 4 5 3 12 15 27
x 4 y 8 4 4 3 4 12 8

Solution: 4, 3
Solve the system of equations.
Example 1:

Reflection:

x y 10
y 4x

Example 2:

y 5x 4
2 y 6 x 56

Some systems of equations do not have an equation that can be solved nicely for one of the variables.
If this occurs, we can solve the system using a new method.

Solving a System of Equations by Linear Combinations (Elimination):

Ex: Solve the system

5x 3 y 1
4 x 6 y 10

by linear combinations.

Step One: Write the two equations in standard

form. (These two are already in standard form)

5x 3 y 1

Step Two: Multiply one or both of the equations

by a constant to obtain coefficients that are
opposites for one of the variables.

We can multiply the first equation by 2 to

obtain a y-coefficient of 6 in the first equation
(the opposite of 6 )

4 x 6 y 10

5 x 3 y 1 2 10 x 6 y 2
4 x 6 y 10 1

Step Three: Add the two equations from Step

Two. One of the variable terms should be
eliminated. Solve for the remaining variable.

4 x 6 y 10

6 x 0 y 12
6 x 12
x2
5 2 3 y 1

Step Four: Substitute the value from Step Three

into either one of the original equations to solve
for the other variable.

10 3 y 1

Step Five: Write your answer as an ordered pair

and check in the original system.

5 x 3 y 1 5 2 3 3 10 9 1

Solution: 2,3

Reflection:

3 y 9
y3

4 x 6 y 10 4 2 6 3 8 18 10

Solve the system of equations.

Example 3:

4 x 3 y 37
2 x 3 y 47

Example 4:

x 4 y 23
4 x 5 y 48

Multiply the _______ equation by _________

Example 5:

2x y 2
3x 2 y 2

Example 6:

Multiply the _______ equation by _________

5x 3 y 9
2 x 5 y 23

Multiply the first equation by _________

Multiply the second equation by ______

Choosing an Appropriate Method: Substitution is the method of choice when one of the equations is
easily solvable (or already solved) for one of the variables. If this is not the case, use linear combinations
to solve the system.
Ex: Which method would be BEST for solving the following system of equations?
a)

3 x 7 y 20
11x 10 y 5

Reflection:

Linear Combinations

b)

y x4
y 2x 5

Substitution

Special Cases: As we know from solving systems of equations by graphing, systems of equations can
have exactly one solution, infinitely many solutions, or no solution.

System of Equations with Infinitely Many Solutions:

Ex: Solve the system

9 x 6 y 0
12 x 8 y 0

using the method of your choice.

Note: Because the equations are in standard form, and are not easily solvable for one of the
variables, we will use linear combinations.
Step One: Done. The equations are in standard form.
Step Two: Multiply the first equation by 4 and the second equation by 3 to eliminate the y
terms.

9 x 6 y 0 4 36 x 24 y 0
12 x 8 y 0 3 36 x 24 y 0
Step Three:

0x 0 y 0
00

Note: Both of the variables were eliminated!

If both of the variables are eliminated, and we end up with a true statement (i.e. a a ), then
the equation has INFINITELY MANY SOLUTIONS.
Note: If we were to graph these two equations, the two lines would be the same line.
Solve the system of equations.
Example 7:

Reflection:

7x y 3
2 y 6 14 x

Systems of Equations with No Solution:

Ex: Solve the system

2 x y 6
4x 2 y 5

using the method of your choice.

Note: Because the first equation is easily solvable for y, we will use substitution.
Step One:

2 x y 6 y 2 x 6
4 x 2 2 x 6 5

Step Two:

4 x 4 x 12 5
12 5

Note: The variable was eliminated!

If the variable is eliminated, and we end up with a false statement (i.e. a b ), then the
equation has NO SOLUTION.
Note: If we were to graph these two equations, the two lines would be parallel.
Solve the system of equations.
Example 8:

x 6y 6
9 x 54 y 3

Solve by any method.

Example 9:

Reflection:

2 x 6 y 15
2y x

Example 10:

2x y 6
3x 2 y 2

Problem-Solving Plan:
Step One: Write a verbal model.
Step Two: Assign labels.
Step Three: Write an algebraic model.
Step Four: Solve the algebraic model using one of the methods for solving a system of
equations.
Step Five: Answer the question asked and label the answer appropriately.
Application Problems with Systems of Equations
Ex: A sporting goods store receives a shipment of 124 golf bags. The shipment includes two types of
bags, full-size and collapsible. The full-size bags cost $38.50 each. The collapsible bags cost $22.50 each.
The bill for the shipment is $3430. How many of each type of golf bag are in the shipment?

Step One:

(# of Full-Size Bags) + (# of Collapsible Bags) = (Total # of Golf Bags in the Shipment)

(Rate) (# of Full-Size Bags) + (Rate) (# of Collapsible Bags) = (Cost of Shipment)

Step Two:

# of Full-Size Bags = F

# of Collapsible Bags = C

Rate of Full-Size Bags = 38.50

Rate of Collapsible Bags = 22.50

Total # of Bags = 124

Cost of Shipment = 3430

Step Three:

F C 124
38.5F 22.5C 3430
F 124 C
38.5 124 C 22.5C 3430

Step Four:

We will use substitution.

4774 38.5C 22.5C 3430

F 124 C
F 124 84

16C 1344

F 40

C 84

Step Five: There are 40 full-size bags and 84 collapsible bags in the shipment.

Reflection:

Example 11:
A health store wants to make trail mix with raisins and granola. The owner mixes
granola, which costs $4 per pound, and raisins, which cost $2 per pound, together to make 25 lbs of trail
mix. How many pounds of raisins should he include if he wants the mixture to cost him a total of $80?

Step One:

pounds of ____________ + pounds of ____________ = ____________

(Rate) (____________) + (Rate) ( ____________) = ______________________

Step Two:

lbs of granola = G

lbs of raisins= R

Total lbs of trail mix = _____

Rate of granola = ________

Rate of raisins = ________

Cost of trail mix = ________

Step Three: (equations)

Step Four: (solve)

Step Five: (answer)

Reflection:

10

Sample CCSD Common Exam Practice Question(s):

1. The equations for two lines are given below:

y 7 x 9
y 4x 2
What is the x-coordinate of the point of intersection of the two lines?
A. 2
B. 1
C. -1
D. -2
2. What is the x-coordinate of the solution of the system of equations?

4 x 2 y 10
5 x 3 y 18
A. 3
B. 1
C. 1
D. 3
3. A coin bank contains only dimes and nickels. The bank contains 46 coins. When 5 dimes and 2 nickels
are removed, the total value of the coins is $3.40. How many nickels did the coin bank start with?
A. 12
B. 22
C. 24
D. 34

Reflection:

11

Section 3.3 Graphing and Solving Systems of Linear Inequalities

Objective(s): Graph the solution set of a system of linear inequalities.

Essential Question: Describe the procedure for solving a system of linear inequalities.

Homework: Assignment 3.3. #28 33 in the homework packet.

Notes:

Vocabulary
A solution of a system of linear inequalities is an ordered pair that is a solution of each inequality in the
system.
A system of linear inequalities is a set of two or more linear inequalities

Testing if an Ordered Pair is a Solution to a System of Linear Inequalities

2 x y 4
y 2x 6

Ex: Use the system of linear inequalities

Is (0, -6) a solution?

Test the point in both inequalities. It is a solution if and only if it satisfies both inequalities.

2x y 4

y 2x 6

2 0 6 4

6 2 0 6

6 4 true

6 6 false

So (0, -6) is NOT a solution.

2 x y 4
y 2x 6

Test if the ordered pair is a solution to the system of inequalities.

Example 1:

Reflection:

(7, 5)

Example 2:

(0, 0)

12

Graphing a System of Linear Inequalities

y 2 x
x 3y 3

Ex: Graph the system

Step One: Graph each line on the same coordinate plane.

Step Two: Determine whether to use solid or dashed lines. (Recall: Use solid
lines for and , and use dashed lines for < and >.)
Step Three: Lightly shade the appropriate half-planes for each inequality.
Step Four: The solution to the system is the overlapping region formed by the
shading in Step Three. Shade darkly this region and erase the regions that have
NO overlapping.
Step Five: Choose a point in the shaded region (not on either line) and test it in
the original system of inequalities.

y 2 x
Choose (0, 2). 2 2 0

2 0 true

x 3y 3

0 3 2 3
6 3 true

Graph the solution to the system of linear inequalities.

Example 3:

Reflection:

y 2 x 2

y x 5

Example 4:

y 3x 1

y x 2

13

Example 5:

y x 1
2

y 2 x 3

Example 7:

2 x 5 y 10

2 x 4 y 12

Example 9:

4 x y 4

3x 2 y 6

Reflection:

Example 6:

Example 8:

2 x 3 y 6

3x 4 y 12

5 x 5 y 15

2 x 4 y 8

Example 10:

y x 4
3

8 x 4 y 16

14

Example 11:

y 3

x 2

Example 12:

5 x y 5
x 2

x 3
y 1

Sample CCSD Common Exam Practice Question(s):

1. Which graph shows the solution to the system of inequalities below?

x 3 y 12
3x y 2

Reflection:

15

Section 3.4 Linear Programming

Objective(s): Solve application problems involving linear programming techniques.

Essential Question: Are the vertices of a feasible region the only possible points that satisfy an objective
function? Explain your answer.

Homework: Assignment 3.4. #34 40 in the homework packet.

Notes:

Vocabulary
A solution of a system of linear inequalities is an ordered pair that is a solution of each inequality in the
system.
The graph of the system of constraints in linear programming is called the feasible region.
Linear programming is the process of optimizing a linear objective function subject to a system of linear
inequalities.

Solving a Linear Programming Problem

Ex: Find the minimum and maximum value of the function P = 2x + 3y subject to the constraints

x0
y2
x y7
Note: In a linear programming problem, the maximum or minimum always occurs at one of the vertices
of the feasible region.
Step One: Graph the feasible region. (Use the constraints.)
Step Two: Find the coordinates of the vertices by solving
3 systems of equations.

x 0

y 2

x 0

x y 7

and

y 2

x y 7

The vertices are (0, 7), (0, 2), and (5, 2).

Reflection:

16

Step Three: Evaluate the objective function for each of the vertices.
x

P = 2x + 3y

P = 2(0) + 3(7) = 21

P = 2(0) + 3(2) = 6

P = 2(5) + 3(2) = 16

Solution: The maximum value of the function P is 21. It occurs when x = 0 and y = 7. The minimum value
of the function P is 6. It occurs when x = 0 and y = 2.
Example 1:

A company makes S pairs of skis and B snowboards under the following constraints:

S 0
B8
2 S B 40
S B 32
Find the maximum profit for the company if they
sell the skis for $70 per pair and the snowboards
for $50 each.
Note: The horizontal axis is the S-axis, and the
vertical axis is the B-axis.
Step One: Graph the feasible region.
Step Two: Find the coordinates of the vertices by solving 6 systems of equations.

S 0

B 8
(

S 0

2S B 40

S 0

S B 32

B 8

2S B 40

B 8

S B 32

2S B 40

S B 32

Reflection:

17

Step Three: Evaluate the objective function for each of the vertices.
S

P=

Solution: The maximum value of the function P is __________. It occurs when S = __________ and
B = __________.
Example 2:

A company makes T tape players and C CD players under the following constraints:

T 60
C 100
T C 200
Find the maximum profit if the company sells the tape players for $28 each and the CD players for $33
each.

Step One: Graph the feasible region.

Reflection:

18

Step Two: Find the coordinates of the vertices by solving 3 systems of equations.

T 60

C 100
(

T 60

T C 200

C 100

T C 200

Step Three: Evaluate the objective function for each of the vertices.
T

P=

Solution: The maximum value of the function P is __________. It occurs when T = __________ and
C = __________.
Sample CCSD Common Exam Practice Question(s):
The area of a parking lot is 600 square meters. A car requires 6 square meters and a bus requires 30
square meters of space. The lot can handle a maximum of 60 vehicles. Let b represent the number of
buses and c represent the number of cars. The diagram below represents the feasible region based on
the constraints of the number of vehicles that can be parked in the lot.

To park in the lot, a bus costs $8 and a car costs $3. How many of each type of vehicle can be parked in
the lot to maximize the amount of money collected?
A.
B.
C.
D.

0 buses and 60 cars

10 buses and 50 cars
20 buses and 0 cars
30 buses and 30 cars

Reflection:

19