STEM PRE – CALCULUS FEU Senior High School

LESSON 6 – SYSTEMS OF NONLINEAR EQUATIONS

INTRODUCTION

We extend the methods and techniques used in solving systems of linear equations to solving
system of equations to systems in which the equations are not necessarily linear. In this lesson, the
equations are limited to linear and quadratic types. We focus on quadratic equations to include a
graphical representation of the solution and to ensure that either a solution is obtained, or it is
determined that there is no solution. The latter is possible because of the quadratic formula.

OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:

a) illustrate systems of nonlinear equations
b) determine the solutions of systems of nonlinear equations using techniques such as
substitution, elimination, and graphing; and
c) solve situational problems involving systems of nonlinear equations.

SUBJECT MATTER

• Review of Techniques in Solving Systems of Linear Equations

Recall the methods we used to solve systems of linear equations. There were three methods
used: substitution, elimination, and graphical.

Example 6.1: Use the substitution method to solve the system and sketch the graphs in one
Cartesian plane showing the point of intersection.

4x + y = 6
5x + 3y = 4

Solution. Isolate the variable 𝑦 in the first equation, and then substitute into the second equation.

4x + y = 6
y = 6 – 4x

5x + 3y = 4
5x + 3(6 – 4x) = 4
–7x + 18 = 4
x=2

y = 6 – 4(2) = –2

Figure 6.1

Example 6.2: Use the elimination method to solve the system and sketch the graphs in one
Cartesian plane showing the point of intersection.

2x + 7 = 3y
4x + 7y = 12

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Solution. We eliminate first the variable x. Rewrite the first equation wherein only the constant
term is on the right-hand side of the equation, then multiply it by –2, and then add the resulting
equation to the second equation.

2x – 3y = 7
(–2) (2x – 3y) = (–2) (–7)

–4x + 6y = 14

–4x + 6y = 14
4x + 7y = 12__
13y = 26
y=2
1
x = −2

Figure 6.2
• Solving Systems of Equations Using Substitution

We begin our extension with a system involving one linear equation and one quadratic
equation. In this case, it is always possible to use substitution by solving the linear equation for
one of the variables.

Example 6.3: Solve the following system and sketch the graphs in one Cartesian plane.

𝑥– 𝑦 + 2 = 0
𝑦 – 1 = 𝑥2

Solution. We solve for y in terms of x in the first equation and substitute this expression to the
second equation.
x–y+2=0»y=x+2

1+ √5 1+ √5 5 + √5
𝑦 – 1 = 𝑥2 𝑥= » 𝑦= +2 =
2 2 2
(𝑥 + 2) – 1 = 𝑥 2
1− √5 1 − √5 5 − √5
𝑥2 − 𝑥 − 1 = 0 𝑥= » 𝑦= +2 =
2 2 2
1± √5
𝑥=
2

1+ √5 5 + √5 1 − √5 5 − √5
Solutions: ( , ) and ( , )
2 2 2 2

The first equation represents a line with x-intercept –2 and y-intercept 2, while the second
equation represents a parabola with vertex at (0,1) and which opens upward.

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Figure 6.3

Example 6.4: Solve the system, and graph the equations

𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 27
𝑥 + 𝑦 2 − 8𝑥 − 4𝑦 = −7
2

Solution. One equation can be solved easily for one variable and substituted in the other equation.
We will then solve this system by substitution. The first equation is easy to solve for 𝑥: 𝑥 = 27 −
5𝑦. Substitute this in the second equation.

𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 8𝑥 − 4𝑦 = −7
(27 − 5𝑦)2 + 𝑦 2 − 8(27 − 5𝑦) − 4𝑦 = −7
(25𝑦 2 − 270𝑦 + 729) + 𝑦 2 − 216 + 40 − 4𝑦 + 7 = 0
26𝑦 2 − 234𝑦 + 520 = 0
(𝑦 2 − 9𝑦 + 20 = 0
(𝑦 − 4)(𝑦 − 5) = 0
𝒚 = 𝟒 or 𝒚 = 𝟓
𝑦=4
Solve for x:

𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 27 » 𝑥 = 27 − 5𝑦

𝒚=𝟒 » 𝑥 = 27 − 5(4) = 27 − 20 = 7
𝒚=𝟓 » 𝑥 = 27 − 5(5) = 27 − 25 = 2
We may then write the solutions as (7,4) and (2,5)

The graph of 𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 27 is a line, and the

second, 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 8𝑥 − 4𝑦 = −7, is a circle.
They therefore intersect at two points
(7,4) and (2,5), as shown in figure 6.3
below.

Figure 6.4

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STEM PRE – CALCULUS FEU Senior High School

• Solving Systems of Equations Using Elimination

Elimination method is also useful in systems of nonlinear equations. Sometimes, some systems
need both techniques (substitution and elimination) to solve them.

Example 6.5: Solve the following system:

y2 – 4x – 6y = 11
4(3 – x) = (y – 3)2

Solution 1. We expand the second equation and eliminate the variable x by adding the equations.

4(3 – x) = (y – 3)2 » 12 – 4x = y2 – 6y + 9 » y2 + 4x – 6y = 3

y2 – 4x – 6y = 11

y2 + 4x – 6y = 3

Adding these equations, we get

2y2 – 12y = 14 » y2 – 6y – 7 = 0 » (y – 7) (y + 1) = 0

y = 7 or y = –1

Solving for x in the second equation, we have

(𝑦−3)2
x = 3– 4

y=7 » x = –1 and y = –1 » x = –1

Solutions: (–1, 7) and (–1, –1)

The graphs of the equations in the preceding example with the points of intersection are shown
below.

Sometimes the solution can be simplified by writing the equations in standard form,
although it is usually the general form which is more convenient to use in solving systems of

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equations. Moreover, the standard form is best for graphing. We solve again the previous example
in a different way.

Solution 2. By completing the square, we can change the first equation into standard form:

y2 – 4x – 6y = 11 » 4(x + 5) = (y – 3)2

4(x + 5) = (y – 3)2
4(3 – x) = (y – 3)2

Using substitution or the transitive property of equality, we get

4(x + 5) = 4(3 – x)2 » x = –1

Substituting this value of x into the second equation, we have

4 [3 – (–1)] = (y – 3)2 » 16 = (y – 3)2 » y = 7 or y = –1

The solutions are (–1, 7) and (–1, –1), same as Solution 1.

Example 6.6: Solve the system, and graph the equations

𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 𝑦 2 + 2𝑦 = 15
𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 3
Solution. Observe that by subtracting the second from the first equation, we are able to eliminate
all terms involving 𝑥.

𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 𝑦 2 + 2𝑦 = 15
𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 − 2𝑦 = −3
𝑦 2 + 4𝑦 = 12

Thus, 0 = 𝑦 2 + 4𝑦 − 12 = (𝑦 + 6)(𝑦 − 2) so 𝑦 = −6 and 𝑦 = 2. Substitute each value of the

second equation.

If 𝑦 = −6, then 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 3

𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 12 = 3
𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 9 = 0
(𝑥 = 3)2 = 0
𝑥=3
2
If 𝑦 = 2, then 𝑥 − 6𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 3

𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 − 4 = 3
𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 − 7 = 0
(𝑥 − 7)(𝑥 + 1) = 0
𝑥 = 7 or 𝑥 = −1

Therefore, we have (3, −6), (7, 2) and (−1,2)

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Figure 6.6

The two equations can be rewritten as (𝑥 − 3)2 + (𝑦 + 1)2 = 25 and (𝑥 − 3)2 = 2(𝑦 + 6). The
graphs are a circle and a parabola which intersect at three points. We could also have solved this
system by substitution: solve for 𝑦 in the second equation and use this on the first equation.
However, more algebra would be involved than the one employed in the solution above.

EVALUATION

I. Solve the system and graph the curves in one Cartesian Plane showing
the point(s) of intersection.

𝑥2 𝑦2
✓ x2 + y2 = 25 and + =1
18 32

✓ x2 + 2y – 12 = 0 and x2 + y2 = 36

✓ (x – 1)2 + (y – 3)2 = 10 and x2 + (y – 1)2 = 5

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