Section 7.2 MA

Systems of Linear Equations in
7.2 Two Variables
Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

What You Should Learn
• Use the method of elimination to solve systems
of linear equations in two variables.
• Graphically interpret the number of solutions of

a system of linear equations in two variables.
• Use systems of linear equations in two

variables to model and solve real-life problems.
• Please read all slides, but focus on 11-20 for

the number of solutions and word problems!!! 2
The Method of Elimination
3
Now we will study the method of elimination to solve a system
of linear equations in two variables. The key step in this method
is to obtain, for one of the variables, coefficients that differ only
in sign so that adding the equations eliminates the variable.
3x + 5y = 7
Equation 1
– 3x – 2y = – 1
Equation 2
3y = 6
Add equations.
4
Note that by adding the two equations, you eliminate the
x-terms and obtain a single equation in y. Solving this
equation for y produces
y=2
which you can then back-substitute into one of the original

equations to solve for x.
5
Example 1 – Solving a System by Elimination
Solve the system of linear equations.

Equation 1
Equation 2
Solution:
Because the coefficients of y differ only in sign, you can
eliminate the y-terms by adding the two equations.
Write Equation 1.
3x + 2y = 4
Write Equation 2.
5x – 2y = 8
Add equations
8x = 12
Solve for x
x =
6
Example 1 – Solution cont’d
So, x = . By back-substituting into Equation 1, you can

solve for y.
3x + 2y = 4 Write Equation 1
3 + 2y = 4 Substitute for x
y= Solve for y
The solution is
You can check the solution algebraically by substituting into

the original system. 7
Check
Substitute into Equation 1
Equation 1 checks
Substitute into Equation 2
Equation 2 checks
8
9
Graphical Interpretation of
Two-Variable Systems
10
Graphical Interpretation of Two-Variable
Systems
It is possible for any system of equations to have exactly
one solution, two or more solutions, or no solution.
If a system of linear equations has two different solutions,

then it must have an infinite number of solutions.
To see why this is true, consider the following graphical

interpretations of a system of two linear equations in two
variables.
11
Graphical Interpretation of Two-Variable
Systems
A system of linear equations is consistent when it has at

least one solution. It is inconsistent when it has no
solution.
12
Example 3 – Recognizing Graphs of Linear Systems
Match each system of linear equations (a, b, c) with its

graph (i, ii, iii) in Figure 7.10. Describe the number of
solutions. Then state whether the system is consistent or
inconsistent.
i. ii. iii.
Figure 7.10
13
Example 3 – Solution
Begin by rewriting each system of equations in slope-
intercept form.
a. The graph of system (a) is a pair of parallel lines (ii).

The lines have no point of intersection, so the system
has no solution. The system is inconsistent.
b. The graph of system (b) is a pair of intersecting lines (iii).

The lines have one point of intersection, so the system
has exactly one solution.
14
The system is consistent.
c. The graph of system (c) is a pair of lines that coincide

(i). The lines have infinitely many points of intersection,
so the system has infinitely many solutions. The system
is consistent.
15
Application
16
Application
At this point, we may be asking the question “How can I tell
which application problems can be solved using a system
of linear equations?” The answer comes from the following
considerations.
1. Does the problem involve more than one unknown

quantity?
2. Are there two (or more) equations or conditions to be
satisfied?
When one or both of these conditions are met, the

appropriate mathematical model for the problem may be a
system of linear equations.
17
Example 6 – Aviation
An airplane flying into a headwind travels the 2000-mile
flying distance between Cleveland, Ohio and Fresno,
California in 4 hours and 24 minutes. On the return flight,
the same distance is traveled in 4 hours. Find the airspeed
of the plane and the speed of the wind, assuming that both
remain constant.
Solution:
The two unknown quantities are the speeds of the wind and
the plane. If r1 is the speed of the plane and r2 is the speed
of the wind, then
r1 – r2 = speed of the plane against the wind
18
r1 + r2 = speed of the plane with the wind
as shown in Figure 7.13.
Figure 7.13
19
Using the formula

distance = (rate) (time)
for these two speeds, you obtain the following equations.
2000 = (r1+ r2 )(4)
These two equations simplify as follows.
Equation 1
Equation 2
20
To solve this system by elimination, multiply Equation 2 by

11.
Write Equation 1
Multiply Equation 2
by 11
Add Equations
So,
Speed of plane
and
Speed of wind
21

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Systems of Linear Equations in

7.2 Two Variables

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

• Graphically interpret the number of solutions of

• Use systems of linear equations in two

• Please read all slides, but focus on 11-20 for

which you can then back-substitute into one of the original

Solve the system of linear equations.

So, x = . By back-substituting into Equation 1, you can

You can check the solution algebraically by substituting into

Substitute into Equation 1

Substitute into Equation 2

If a system of linear equations has two different solutions,

To see why this is true, consider the following graphical

A system of linear equations is consistent when it has at

Match each system of linear equations (a, b, c) with its

a. The graph of system (a) is a pair of parallel lines (ii).

b. The graph of system (b) is a pair of intersecting lines (iii).

The system is consistent.

c. The graph of system (c) is a pair of lines that coincide

1. Does the problem involve more than one unknown

When one or both of these conditions are met, the

r1 + r2 = speed of the plane with the wind

as shown in Figure 7.13.

Using the formula

2000 = (r1+ r2 )(4)

These two equations simplify as follows.

To solve this system by elimination, multiply Equation 2 by

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