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Linear graphs Linear equations Rearranging equationsHere is everything you need to know about solving systems of linear equations. You will learn what systems of equations are and how to solve them graphically and algebraically.
Students first learn about systems of equations in grade 8 and expand their knowledge as they progress through high school mathematics.
Systems of equations are two or more algebraic equations that are solved together. They contain a number of variables (also called unknown variables or unknowns) such as x and y .
For example, the two linear equations below make up a system of equations. They are sometimes referred to as simultaneous linear equations.
x+y=6 -3x+y=2The unique solution to this system would be the point that is common to both equations. If you graph both of the equations, look for their point of intersection.
The point of intersection is (1,5) which means that x=1 and y=5 is the solution to the system. You can substitute 1 in for x and 5 in for y into the equations to see that they are the solution.
x+y=6\rightarrow1+5=6\ \checkmark -3x+y=2\rightarrow-3(1)+5=2\ \checkmarkWhen solving a system of linear equations there are three possible outcomes.
Step-by-step guide: Solving systems of equations by graphing
Step-by-step guide: Intersecting lines
There are two other ways to solve a system of linear equations algebraically.
Use this quiz to check your grade 6 – grade 8 students’ understanding of algebra. 10+ questions with answers covering a range of 6th to 8th grade algebra topics to identify areas of strength and support!
DOWNLOAD FREEUse this quiz to check your grade 6 – grade 8 students’ understanding of algebra. 10+ questions with answers covering a range of 6th to 8th grade algebra topics to identify areas of strength and support!
DOWNLOAD FREELet’s solve the system using the substitution method. In order to use substitution, make sure one of the variables is isolated. Then substitute that variable into the other equation and solve to find the common solutions for the number of equations.
y=3x+4 y=-2x-6You can see that the y’ s are isolated, so you can substitute 3x+4 into the second equation for y.
\begin{aligned}y&=3x+4 \\\\ y&=-2x-6\end{aligned}so
3x+4=-2x-6This has isolated the x variable so you can now solve for x by using the constant terms and coefficients to balance the equation using inverse operations on both sides of the equation.
\begin{aligned}&3x+4=-2x-6 \\\\ & 3x+2x+4=-2x+2x-6 \\\\ & 5x+4=-6 \\\\ & 5x+4-4=-6-4 \\\\ & 5x=-10\\\\ & \cfrac{5x}{5}=\cfrac{-10}{5}\\\\ & x=-2 \end{aligned}Now take that value of x and substitute it back into the original equation to find y.
\begin{aligned}y&=3(-2)+4\\\\ y&=-6+4 \\\\ y&=-2 \end{aligned}The solution to the system is (-2,-2), which is the intersection point of the orginal set of equations.
Let’s solve the system using the elimination method (sometimes called the addition method). In order to use this method, you will need to cancel out either the x terms or the y terms.
\begin{aligned}6x+y&=18 \\\\ 4x+y&=14 \end{aligned}If you were to add the two equations together, neither of the terms would cancel out. The y -terms both have a coefficient of 1. If we were to change one of them to have a coefficient of -1, the y -term will cancel out.
So, multiply the top equation by -1.
-1(6x+y=18)=-6x-y=-18Take the new equation and add it to the second equation.
\begin{array}{rcl}-6x&-y&=-18 \\\\ 4x&+y&=14 \\\\ \hline-2x&&=-4 \end{array}Now, you can solve for x.
\begin{aligned}-2x&=-4 \\\\ \cfrac{-2x}{-2}&=\cfrac{-4}{-2}\\\\ x&=2 \end{aligned}To find y, substitute 2 for x in one of the original equations.
\begin{aligned}&6x+y=18 \\\\ & 6(2)+y=18 \\\\ & 12+y=18 \\\\ & 12-12+y=18-12 \\\\ & y=6 \end{aligned}The solution to the system is (2, 6).
Systems of equations do not always have to be linear. For example, let’s solve the following system below.
\begin{aligned}y&=x^{2}-4 \\\\ y&=2x-1 \end{aligned}Using the strategy of substitution, replace y with 2x-1.
2x-1=x^2-4It’s a quadratic polynomial, so bring everything to one side first so that the quadratic is equal to 0. As x^2 is positive on the right hand side of the equals sign, move each term onto this side.
\begin{aligned}& 2x-1+1=x^{2}-4+1 \\\\ & 2x=x^{2}-3 \\\\ & 2x-2x=x^{2}-3-2x \\\\ & 0=x^{2}-3-2x \end{aligned}Or
x^{2}-2x-3=0Solve by factoring.
\begin{aligned}& x^{2}-2x-3=0 \\\\ & (x-3)(x+1)=0 \\\\ & x=3\text{ or }x=-1 \end{aligned}Notice how there are two values for x. This means there might be two values for y.
Substitute x=3 into one of the original equations and then the same for x=-1.
\begin{aligned}y&=x^{2}-4 \\\\ y&=(3)^{2}-4 \\\\ y&=9-4 \\\\ y&=5 \end{aligned}The first ordered pair is (3,5).
\begin{aligned}y&=x^{2}-4 \\\\ y&=(-1)^{2}-4 \\\\ y&=1-4 \\\\ y&=-3 \end{aligned}The second ordered pair is (-1,-3).
Graphing the system on the coordinate plane demonstrates that there are a number of solutions and shows the two points of intersection.
Step-by-step guide: nonlinear systems of equations
How does this relate to 8 th grade math and high school math?
In order to solve a system of linear equations using substitution:
Solve the system using substitution.
\begin{aligned}6x+3y&=48 \\\\ 6x+y&=26 \end{aligned}Using the second equation, solve it for y.
\begin{aligned}6x+y&=26 \\\\ 6x-6x+y&=26-6x \\\\ y&=26-6x \end{aligned}2Substitute the expression from Step \bf{1} into the other equation.
Using the equation that was solved for y, (y=26-6x) substitute into the other equation.
\begin{aligned} 6x+3y&=48 \\\\ 6x+3(26-6x)&=48 \end{aligned}3Solve the resulting equation.
\begin{aligned}6x+3(26-6x)&=48 \\\\ 6x+78-18x&=48 \\\\ -12x+78&=48 \\\\ -12x+78-78&=48-78 \\\\ -12x&=-30 \\\\ \cfrac{-12x}{-12}&=\cfrac{-30}{-12} \\\\ x&=2.5 \end{aligned}4Find the other variable.
Take x=2.5 and substitute it into one of the original equations to find y.
\begin{aligned} 6x+3y&=48\\\\ 6(2.5)+3y&=48\\\\ 15+3y&=48\\\\ 15+3y-15&=48-15\\\\ 3y&=33\\\\ y&=11 \end{aligned}5Write the solution as an ordered pair.
x=2.5 and y=11.
So, the ordered pair is (2.5, 11) which is the solution of the system.
Solve the system using substitution.
\begin{aligned} y&=\cfrac{1}{2}x \\\\ x-6y&=-8 \end{aligned}Solve one of the equations for either variable.
The top equation is already solved for y.
y=\cfrac{1}{2}x
Substitute the expression from Step \bf{1} into the other equation.
Take that equation and substitute it into the second equation.
\begin{aligned}x-6y&=-8 \\\\
x-6\left(\cfrac{1}{2}x\right)&=-8 \end{aligned}
Solve the resulting equation.
Find the other variable.
Substitute x=4 into one of the original equations to find y.
\begin{aligned}& y=\cfrac{1}{2}x \\\\ & y=\cfrac{1}{2}(4) \\\\ & y=2 \end{aligned}
Write the solution as an ordered pair.
x=4 and y=2 , so the ordered pair is (4, 2), which is the solution of the system.
Solve the system using substitution.
\begin{aligned}&2x+4y=14 \\\\ & 4x-4y=4 \end{aligned}Solve one of the equations for either variable.
Using the second equation, solve for x.
\begin{aligned}4x-4y&=4 \\\\ 4x-4y+4y&=4+4y \\\\ 4x&=4+4y \\\\ \cfrac{4x}{4}&=\cfrac{4}{4}+\cfrac{4y}{4} \\\\ x &=1+y \end{aligned}
Substitute the expression from Step \bf{1} into the other equation.
Substitute into the first equation.
\begin{aligned}2x+4y&=14 \\\\ 2(1+y)+4y&=14 \end{aligned}
Solve the resulting equation.
Find the other variable.
Substitute y=2 into one of the original equations to find x.
\begin{aligned}2x+4y&=14 \\\\ 2x+4(2)&=14 \\\\ 2x+8&=14 \\\\ 2x+8-8&=14-8 \\\\ 2x&=6 \\\\ \cfrac{2x}{2}&=\cfrac{6}{2} \\\\ x&=3 \end{aligned}
Write the solution as an ordered pair.
y=2 and x=3, so the ordered pair is (3, 2), which is the solution of the system.
In order to solve a system of equations using elimination:
Solve the system using elimination.
\begin{aligned} 6a+b&=18 \\\\ 4a+b&=14\end{aligned}Make the coefficients of the variable opposites.
To eliminate the “b” variable, the coefficients have to be opposites. In this case, the coefficients should be 1 and -1.
Multiplying the top equation by -1, makes the coefficient -1.
\begin{aligned} -1(6a+b&=18) \\\\
-6a-b&=-18 \end{aligned}
Add the equations to eliminate that variable.
Using the new equation and the second equation, add the equations together.
Solve for the remaining variable.
Substitute the solved variable into the original equation to find the eliminated variable.
Substituting a=2 into one of the original equations, solve for b.
\begin{aligned}6a+b&=18 \\\\
6(2)+b&=18 \\\\
12+b&=18 \\\\
b&=6 \end{aligned}
Write the answer as an ordered pair.
a=2 and b=6 , so the ordered pair is (2,6) , which is the solution of the system.
Solve the system using elimination.
\begin{aligned}3x+2y&=8 \\\\ 2x+5y&=-2 \end{aligned}Make the coefficients of the variable opposites.
In this case, let’s make the coefficients of the x terms opposites. Make one 6 and the other -6.
Multiply the top equation by 2 and the bottom equation by -3.
\begin{aligned}2(3x+2y=8)&\rightarrow6x+4y=16 \\\\
-3(2x+5y=-2)&\rightarrow-6x-15y=6 \end{aligned}
Add the equations to eliminate that variable.
Solve for the remaining variable.
Substitute the solved variable into the original equation to find the eliminated variable.
Substitute y=-2 into one of the original equations to find y.
\begin{aligned}3x+2y&=8 \\\\
3x+2(-2)&=8 \\\\
3x-4&=8 \\\\
3x-4+4&=8+4 \\\\
3x&=12 \\\\
\cfrac{3x}{3}&=\cfrac{12}{3} \\\\
x&=4 \end{aligned}
Write the answer as an ordered pair.
y=-2 and x=4 , so the ordered pair is (4,-2) , which is the solution of the system.
Solve the system using elimination.
\begin{aligned}10x-9y&=46 \\\\ 2x-3y&=-10 \end{aligned}Make the coefficients of the variable opposites.
In this case, let’s eliminate the x variables. This means the coefficients have to be 10 and -10. The top equation already has a coefficient of 10. The bottom equation has to be multiplied by -5.
-5(2x-3y=-10)\rightarrow-10x+15y=50
Add the equations to eliminate that variable.
Solve for the remaining variable.
Substitute the solved variable into the original equation to find the eliminated variable.
Substitute y=16 into one of the original equations in order to find the value of x.
\begin{aligned}10x-9y&=46 \\\\
10x-9(16)&=46 \\\\
10x-144&=46 \\\\
10x-144+144&=46+144 \\\\
10x&=190 \\\\
\cfrac{10x}{10}&=\cfrac{190}{10} \\\\
x&=19 \end{aligned}
Write the answer as an ordered pair.
y=16 and x=19 , so the ordered pair is (19,16) , which is the solution of the system.
David buys 10 apples and 6 bananas at the farm. They cost \$ 5.08 in total.
At the same farm, Ellie buys 3 apples and 1 banana. She spends \$ 1.42 in total.
Find the cost of one apple and one banana.
Use the substitution method to solve.
Additional step: Create two equations from the given word problem.
Convert the word problem into equations.
10 apples and 6 bananas for \$ 5.08 \rightarrow10a+6b=5.08
3 apples and 1 banana for \$ 1.42 \rightarrow3a+b=1.42
Using substitution:
Solve one of the equations for either variable.
Using the second equation, solve it for b.
Substitute the expression from Step \bf{2} into the other equation.
so
10a+6(1.42-3a)=5.08
Solve the resulting equation.
Find the other variable.
Substitute a=0.43 into one of the original equations to find the value of b.
\begin{aligned}10a+6b&=5.08 \\\\
10(0.43)+6b&=5.08 \\\\
4.3+6b&=5.08 \\\\
4.3+6b-4.3&=5.08-4.3 \\\\
6b&=0.78 \\\\
\cfrac{6b}{6}&=\cfrac{0.78}{6} \\\\
b&=0.13 \end{aligned}
Write the solution as an ordered pair.
a=0.43 , which means each apple costs \$ 0.43
b=0.13 , which means each banana costs \$ 0.13.
1. Find the solution to the system of equations.
\begin{aligned}6x+3y&=48 \\\\ 6x+y&=26 \end{aligned}
Using the substitution method, solve the second equation for y.
\begin{aligned}6x+y&=26 \\\\ 6x-6x+y&=26-6x \\\\ y&=26-6x \end{aligned}
Then take that and substitute it into the first equation for y.
\begin{aligned}6x+3y&=48 \\\\ 6x+3(26-6x)&=48 \\\\ 6x+78-18x&=48 \\\\ -12x+78&=48 \\\\ -12x+78-78&=48-78 \\\\ -12x&=-30 \\\\ \cfrac{-12x}{-12}&=\cfrac{-30}{-12} \\\\ x&=2.5 \end{aligned}
Substitute the value of x=2.5 into one of the original equations to find the value of y.
\begin{aligned}6x+3y&=48 \\\\ 6(2.5)+3y&=48 \\\\ 15+3y&=48 \\\\ 15-15+3y&=48-15 \\\\ 3y&=33 \\\\ \cfrac{3y}{3}&=\cfrac{33}{3} \\\\ y&=11 \end{aligned}
Since x=2.5 and y=11, the ordered pair is (2.5,11).
2. Which graph represents the graph of a system with no solution?
No solution to a system means that there are no common points between the equations.
Parallel lines represent no solution because there are not any common points.
3. Find the solution to the system of equations.
\begin{aligned}x-2y&=8 \\\\ x-3y&=3 \end{aligned}
You can use elimination to solve the system by eliminating the x variables by making the coefficients opposites. Multiply the top equation by -1.
-1(x-2y=8)=-x+2y=-8
Add the equations together to eliminate the x.
\begin{array}{rcl}-x&+2y&=-8 \\\\ x&-3y&=3 \\\\ \hline &-y&=-5 \end{array}
Solve for y.
\begin{aligned}-y&=-5 \\\\ \cfrac{-y}{-1}&=\cfrac{-5}{-1} \\\\ y&=5\\\end{aligned}
Take y=5 and substitute it into one of the original equations to find x.
\begin{aligned}x-2y&=8 \\\\ x-2(5)&=8 \\\\ x-10&=8 \\\\ x&=18 \end{aligned}
x=18 and y=5, so the ordered pair is (18,5)
4. Find the solution to the system.
\begin{aligned}4x+2y&=34 \\\\ 3x+y&=21 \end{aligned}
Using the elimination strategy, multiply the bottom equation by -2 to eliminate the y variables by making the coefficients opposites of each other.
-2(3x+y=21)=-6x-2y=-42
Add the equations together to eliminate the y variables.
\begin{array}{rcl}-6x&-2y&=-42 \\\\ 4x&+2y&=34 \\\\ \hline -2x&&=-8 \end{array}
Solve for x.
\begin{aligned}-2x&=-8 \\\\ \cfrac{-2x}{-2}&=\cfrac{-8}{-2} \\\\ x&=4 \end{aligned}
Substitute 4 in for x into one of the original equations to find the value of y.
\begin{aligned}4x+2y&=34 \\\\ 4(4)+2y&=34 \\\\ 16+2y&=34 \\\\ 2y&=18 \\\\ \cfrac{2y}{2}&=\cfrac{18}{2} \\\\ y&=9 \end{aligned}
x=4 and y=9 , so the ordered pair is (4,9).
5. Solve the system of linear equations.
\begin{aligned}15x-4y&=82 \\\\ 5x-9y&=12 \end{aligned}
Solving the system using the elimination method, multiply the bottom equation by -3 to eliminate the x variables.
-3(5x-9y=12)=-15x+27y=-36
Add the equations together to eliminate the x variables.
\begin{array}{rcl}15x&-4y&=82 \\\\ -15x&+27y&=-36 \\\\ \hline &23y&=46 \end{array}
Solve for y.
\begin{aligned}23y&=46 \\\\ \cfrac{23y}{23}&=\cfrac{46}{23} \\\\ y&=2 \end{aligned}
Substitute 2 in for y to find the value of x.
\begin{aligned}15x-4y&=82 \\\\ 15x-4(2)&=82 \\\\ 15x-8&=82 \\\\ 15x&=90 \\\\ x&=6 \end{aligned}
x=6 and y=2 , so the ordered pair is (6,2).
6. Leo has 12 coins in a bag. Some of the coins are dimes and some of them are nickels. In total, he has \$ 0.95. How many dimes and nickels does he have?
5 dimes and 7 nickels
6 dimes and 6 nickels
8 dimes and 4 nickels
5 nickels and 7 dimes
Translate the problem into algebraic equations.
12 coins total \rightarrow{n}+d=12
The coins total \$ 0.95 \rightarrow 0.05n+0.1d=0.95
Using substitution strategy, solve the first equation for n.
\begin{aligned}n+d&=12 \\\\ n&=12-d \end{aligned}
Substitute n into the second equation.
\begin{aligned}0.05n+0.1d&=0.95 \\\\ 0.05(12-d)+0.1d&=0.95 \\\\ 0.6-0.05d+0.1d&=0.95 \\\\ 0.05d&=0.35 \\\\ d&=7 \end{aligned}
Substitute 7 in for d into one of the original equations to find n.
\begin{aligned}n+d&=12 \\\\ n+7&=12 \\\\ n&=5 \end{aligned}
7 dimes and 5 nickels.
Yes, as noted on this webpage, you can use elimination method and substitution method, which are common strategies to solve linear systems in Algebra 1.
However, you can also use matrices (rectangular arrangements of numbers) to solve linear equations. When you get into high school Algebra 2 and Precalculus, you will learn how to solve linear systems using matrices and Cramer’s rule.
Yes, the solutions to linear systems or any system can be any real number.
Simultaneous equations is just different terminology for systems of equations.
Yes, graphing is the preferred method for solving a system of linear inequalities.
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