MODULE 7: SYSTEMS OF LINEAR EQUATIONS IN TWO OR

MORE VARIABLES

Objectives:

At the end of this module, the students will be able to:

1. Solve the following systems of linear equations.
2. Use different methods to solve systems of linear equations.
3. Check if the solution set satisfies the given system.
Introduction:

A general linear equation in two or more unknowns, x and y may be written in the form
ax+by=c, where a,b, and c are constants and non-zeros. The solution of this equation is a
pair of values (x,y) which satisfies the given equation. But, if w consider two linear equations,
both with two (2) unknowns, x and y, their common solution is a pair of values for x and y
that represents their intersection and which satisfies both equations. This common solution
is known as the solution set of the two (2) simultaneous system of linear equations.
In this module, we will discuss four (4) methods of solving systems of linear equations,
namely, the elimination by substitution, elimination by addition/subtraction, use of the
graphical method, and by determinant.
The methods of elimination by substitution and by elimination by addition/subtraction
involve a procedure of solving a system of equations in one unknown by eliminating one of
the unknowns. The graphical method uses charting the graphs of two (2) linear equations to
obtain the pair of values for x and y representing their point of intersection. Solution by
determinant involves finding the value of an array of numbers in rectangular form called
elements of the matrix.

Pre-test:
Solve the following systems of linear equations by any method.
 2 x  y  10
1. 
5 x  2 y  7
 3x  y  5
2. 
 x  4 y  7
 x  2y  z  5

3.  2 x  y  3 z  5
3 x  2 y  2 z  7

Pre-test Feedback:
1. 3,4 
2. 1,2 
3. 1,3,2 

1
Solution by Elimination by Substitution
The steps/procedures in solving a system of linear equations by elimination by
substitution are enumerated as follows:
1. Select one equation in solving a system of linear equations by elimination by
substitution are enumerated as follows:
2. Substitute the value obtained in one (1) of the equations using the other equation.
3. Solve the value of the unknown in the resulting equation.
4. Check the values obtained by substituting them in each of the given equations.
Example: Solve by elimination by substitution.
 2 x  y  10

5 x  2 y  7
3,4
Answer:
Solution by Elimination by Addition/Subtraction
To solve a system of linear equations by elimination by addition/subtraction, we shall
follow the steps/procedures below.
1. Multiply one or both of the equations by a number or numbers that will result to one of
the variables having similar numerical coefficient in the two equations.
2. Add the equations if the sign of the similar coefficients are unlike; subtract if the signs
are alike.
3. Solve the resulting equation in one unknown.
4. Substitute the value of the unknown obtained in step 3 in either of the given equations
to obtain the value of the other unknown.
5. Check the values obtained by substituting them in the given equations.
Examples:
 3x  y  5
1. Solve by elimination by addition. 
 x  4 y  7
2 x  15 y  7
2. Solve by elimination by subtraction. 
 9 x  3 y  33

Solution by Graphical Method

The graph of a linear equation with two (2) variables is a straight line. Consequently, the
graphs that may be formed when two linear equations having two variables are drawn in the
rectangular coordinate system are either intersecting lines, parallel lines, or coinciding lines.
If the graphs of the two straight lines intersect, the solution set is an ordered pair having
coordinates of the point (x,y). This system of equations is called consistent or independent. If
the straight lines are parallel, they have no point of intersection and the system of equations
is classified as inconsistent. And if the graphs of the two linear equations coincide, then, we
have a dependent system of linear equations.
The following are the steps of system of linear equations by the graphical method.
1. Find the coordinate of two points of each given linear equations in two unknowns.
2. Draw the graphs of the two linear equations in the same rectangular coordinate system.
3. Determine the coordinates (x,y) of the point of intersection of the two lines.
4. Check the values (x,y) obtained in step 3 by substituting them in the given equations.
Example: Solve by graphical method.
2 x  y  5
1.  Answer: 2,1
2 x  y  3

2
Solution by Determinant
A rectangular array of numbers of m rows and no columns is a square matrix of n order.
The number which is associated with the square matrix called the determinant of the matrix.
The array of numbers in rectangular form is composed of the elements of the matrix. The
vertical arrangement of numbers show the columns, while the horizontal arrangement, the
rows.
The determinant of a matrix is usually written by enclosing the elements of the matrix by
vertical bars.
A matrix is square matrix if the number of columns is equal to the number of rows.
Examples of determinants as to order are:
3 5
1.   2 2
 4 2 is a determinant of the second-order matrix or a determinant.
 5  2 3
2. 7 4 6 is a determinant of the third-order matrix or 3 3 determinant.
 
2 9 9
In example 1 above, the elements 3 and 2 represent the principal diagonal and the
elements 4 and 5 represent the secondary diagonal.
The value of the determinant may be obtained by subtracting the product of the
elements of the secondary diagonal from the product of the elements of the primary
diagonal.
To solve a system of linear equations by using determinant, observe the steps and
procedure enumerated below:
1. Write each of the linear equations in the form ax  by  c .
2. Form the determinant of the matrix using the values of a,b, and c of the linear
equations as elements.
3. Solve each of the values of the unknowns, x and y, based on the following definitions:
 a1 x  b1 y  c1
For the second-order matrix: 
a2 x  b2 y  c2
 c1 b1   a1 c1 
c b  c b c b a c  a c  a c
x  2 2 
 1 2 2 1
x 2 2 1 2 2 1
a b
 1 1  a1b2  a2b1 a b
 1 1  a1b2  a2b1
a b  a b 
 2 2  2 2
 a1 x  b1 y  c1 z  d1

For the third-order matrix: a2 x  b2 y  c2 z  d 2
a x  b y  c z  d
 3 3 3 3

 d1 b1 c1 
d b c 
 2 2 2  b2 c2   d 2 c2   d 2 b2 
 d 3 b3 c3  d1 b3 c3  b1 d 3 c3  c1  d 3 b3 
   
x       
a1 b1 c1  a1  b2 c2   b1  a2 c2  1  a2 b2 
 
 a2 b2 c2  b c  a c  a b 
 3 3  3 3  3 3
a b c 
 3 3 3
To solve y for a third-order matrix, form the determinant of the numerator using as
elements the numerical coefficients of the x’s for the first column; d1 , d 2 , and d 3 for the

3
 second column in place of the coefficients of the y’s and the numerical coefficients of z’s
for the third column. Copy and use as denominator the determinant used as
denominator in solving the x above.
To solve z, form the determinant of the numerator using as elements the numerical
coefficients of the x’s and the y’s for the first and second columns respectively, replacing
the third column intended for the coefficients of z’s with d1 , d 2 , and d 3 ; and use again as
denominator the same determinant used as denominator in solving the values of x and y
as shown above.
4. Check the obtained values of the unknowns by substituting them in the given linear
equations.
Examples: Solve the system of equations by determinant.
2 x  3 y  7  0
1.  Answer: 2,1
 3x  5 y  1  0
 x  2y  z  5

2.  2 x  y  3 z  5 Answer: 1,3,2 
3 x  2 y  2 z  7


Practice Exercise A: Solve the following systems of linear equations by elimination by substitution
and check your answers.
 3 x  y  14
1. 
5 x  2 y  27
 x  y  5
2.  x
3 y   10
 2
 4 x  3 y  7
3. 5 y  3 x  12
 4
 1
 x y 8
4.  5
2 1
 y  x  1
3 2

 2
3 x  7  5 y
5.  x
 2y   9
 3

4
Practice Exercise B: Solve the following systems of linear equations by elimination by addition or
subtraction, and check.
4 x  y  16
1. 
 2x  y  2
 5 x  y  21
2. 
24 x  8 y  52
3 x  7 y  32
3. 
6 x  5 y  46
2 x  3 y  36

4.  y
7 x   41
 8
 3y
 x 4 3
5. 
2x
  y  1
3
Practice Exercise C: Find the following systems of linear equations by graphing.
x  7 y  6
1. 
 x y 0
3 x  5 y  2
2. 
 x  2y  3
 2x  y
3. 
3 x  y  15
 x  5 y
4. 
 y  2x  2
5 x  7 y  17
5. 
 2x  y  3
Practice Exercise D: Find the following systems of linear equations by determinant, and check
your answers.
2 x  5 y  7
1. 
 3x  y  2
3x  y  5
2. 
x  2 y  4
 5 x  y  11
3. 
2 x  5 y  26

5
 5 x  2 y  20
4. 
 4 x  3 y  7
 4 x  3 y  39
5. 
 x  5 y  19
 x yz 3

6. 2 x  3 y  4 z  3
 3x  y  2 z  2


 2 x  3 y  z  7

7.  5 x  y  2 z  12
 x  5 y  4 z  14


 x  y  2 z  11

8.  2 x  7 y  3 z  5
3 x  2 y  2 z  5


 2x  y  z  5

9.  x  y  z  1
 x  3 y  z  5


 abc  6

10. 2a  3b  c  6
 3a  b  2c  1


Post test:
Solve the following systems of linear equations by any method.
 2 x  y  10
1. 
5 x  2 y  7
 3x  y  5
2. 
 x  4 y  7
 x  2y  z  5

3.  2 x  y  3 z  5
3 x  2 y  2 z  7


Post test Feedback:

1. 3,4 
2. 1,2 
3. 1,3,2 