Linear equation in two variables can be written as

and a, b and c are real numbers.

This equation has infinitely many solution. When we consider two linear equation together then
we say it a system of two variable x and y. such as.
5x + 3y + 2 = 0
2x - 3y + 5 = 0
Algebraic solution of system of linear equation:
1. Elimination by substitution:
Let us consider a system of linar equations:

From equation (1) we get

x = (1 + 7y)/2
Putting the value of x in e.q. (2) we get

Or, 2 + 14y + 3y = 15
Or, 17y = 13
Or, y = 13/17
Putting value of y in eq (1) we get

Or, 2x = 1 + 91/17
Or, 2x = (17+91)/17

Or, x = 108/34
Or, x = 54/17

2. Elimination by equating:
Let us consider a system of equations:

From equation (1) we get

----------------- (3)
and from eq. (2) we get

----------------- (4)
From (3) and (4) we get

or, 12+36x = 45+25x

or, 11x = 33
or, x = 3
Putting x = 3 in (3) we get

= 20/5
=4

3. Elimination by equating coefficients:

Let us consider a system of equations:
x - 5y = 11 ----------(1)
2x + 3y = -4 ---------(2)
Multiplying equation (1) by 2 and then subtracting eq. (2) from this we get

Or, y = -2
Patting y = -2 in eq (1) we get
x = -5 (-2) = 11
Or, x + 10 = 11
Or, x = 1

<br/>
4. Solution by cross Multiplication:
Let us consider a system of equations:

From equation (1) we have

Putting this value of y in eq (2) we get

Or,

Similarly by eliminating x, we get

Here we see that (3) and (4) are linear equation in one variable only.

Provided

The above results can be written as:

and
and combining these two we get

The above result can be written in a picture form as:

When
value of x and y. if

, then we can not divide equations (3) and (4) by

to fine the

then

and
If

, then equation (2) reduces to

ka1x + kb1y + kc1 = 0

Or,
Or,
Which is equation (1). Here we see that every solution of equation (1) is a solution of equation
(2) hence the system has infinite solutions.
If

, equation on (2) reduces to

Or,
Or, k (-c1) + c2 = 0
Or, C2 = KC1
But this is not true. Therefore, no solution exists.
The system of equations

has exactly one or, unique solution if

i. e; if

has no solution if

and has infinite solution if

Example 1. Solve the system of equation:

Solution :

Here ,
and a1b2 - a2b1
=1 x 2 - 3 x (-4)
= 2 + 12
=
The system has unique solution.

Or,

Or,
Or, x = 28/14 = 2,
Or, y = 56/14 = 4

Example 2. Find the value of p for which the following system of eqation have exactly one
solution:

Solution: - here we have

as the system of equation have exactly one solution

Hence, the system of equations have exactly one solution for all value of a except 6.

Example 3. Solve the following system of equation for x and y

Solution :- Multiplying equation (1) by b2 and then adding to (2) we get

Or, x = a
Putting x = a in equation (1) we get

x = a, y = b.
Alternative Method:-

Example 4. Solve the following system of equation:

Solution: multiplying equation (1) by 4 and equation (2) by 7 we get

Subtracting (3) fr0m (4) we get

Or, 19/v = 38
Or, 36 v = 19
Or, v = 19/38
Or, v = 1/2
Putting v = 1/2 in (1) we get

Or, 22 - 7/u = 1
Or, 21 = 7/u
Or, 21u = 7
Or, u = 7/21
Or, u = 1/3

Example 5. Find the solution of following system of equation such that

Solution: Dividing both sides of the given equations by uv we get

Multiplying equation (2) by 2 and then subtracting equation (1) we get

Or, 15u = 15
u=1
Putting u = 1 in equation on (1)

Or, 2/v = (7-3)/3

Or. 2/v = 4/3
Or, 4v = 6

Or, v = 6/4
Or, v = 3/2

Example 6: Solve for x and y:

Solution: putting x + y =u and x - y = v the given equation reduces to

Multiplying equation (1) by 4 and equation (2) by 3 we get

Subtracting (4) from (3) we get

11/u = 1
Or, u = 11
Or,
Putting u = 11 in (1) we get

Or,
Adding (5) and (6) we get
2x = 16
x=8
Putting x = 8 in (5) we get
8 + y = 11
y=3

Example 7. Solve the following system of equation:

Solution:-

Multiplying equation (1) by 4 and (2) by 3 and then adding we get

Putting x = 3 in (i) we get

Example 8. Find the value of a and b for which the following system of equations has infinitely
many solution; [2002 C, D]

Solution:-

For infinitely many solutions

Taking 1st and 3rd ratio

Taking last two retio

5b - 10 = -9
5b = -9 + 10 = 1
b = 1/5

Example 9. Determine the value of k so that the following linear equations have no solution:

Solution:-

For no solution,

Or, (k - 2) (3k + 2) = 3(k2 + 1)

Or, 3k2 - 5k - 2 = 3k2 + 3
Or, -5k = 5
Or, k = -1
Exercise - 1
1. For what value of k will the following system of linear equations have no solution?
3x + y = 1, (2k - 1)x + (k - 1)y = 2k +1
2. Determine the value of c for which the following system of linear equations has no solution:
cx + 3y = 3; 12x + cy = 6
3. For what value of k will the system of equations
x + 2y = 5; 3x + ky + 15 = 0
has (i) unique solution (ii) no solution.
4. For what value of k, the following system of equations have (i) a unique solution, (ii) no
solutions:
kx + 2y = 5; 3x - 4y = 10
5. Find the value of a and b for which the following system of linear equations has infinite
numbers of solutions:
2x - 3y = 7
(a + b)x - (a + b - 3)y = 4a + b.)
Solve the following system of linear equations
6. For the value of k, for which the following system of linear equations has in finite number of
solutions:
2x + 3y = 7
(k - 1) x + (k +2)y = 3k
solve the following system of linear equations:
7. 3x - 5y = -1, x - y = -1

8. x + y = 7, 5x + 12y = 7
9. 3x - 4y = 1, 4x - 3y = 6
10. x + y/2 = 4, x/3 + 2y = 5
11. x/3 + y/4 = 4, 5x/6 - y/8 = 4
12. 2/x + 2/3y = 1/6, 3/x + 2/y = 0
13. 2u + 15v = 17uv, 5u + 5v = 36uv
14. 3(a + 3b) = 11ab, 3(2a +b) = 7ab
15. 2x/a + y/b = 2, x/a - y/b = 4
16. x/a - y/b = 0, ax + by = a2 + b2
17. (a - b)x + (a +b)y = a2 - 2ab - b2, (a +b) (x + y) = a2 + b2
18. x/a + y/b = a +b, x/a2 + y/b2 = 2
19. ax + by = c, bx + ay = 1 + c
20. x + y = a - b, ax - by = a2 + b2
Answers
(1) 2
(4) (i)

(2) 6
(ii)

(3) (i)

(ii)

(5) a = -5, b = -1

(6) 7

(7) -2, -1

(8) 11, -4

(9) 3, 2

(10) 3, 2

(11) 6, 8

(12) 6, -4

(13) 5, 1/7

(14) 1, 3/2

(15) 2a, -2b

(16) a, b

(17) a +b, -2ab/(a

+ b)

(18) a2, b2

(19) (bc - ac + b)/(b2 - a2), (bc - ac - a)/(b2 - a2 )

Graphical solution of system of linear equations:

Example 10. Solve graphically the system of equations:

Solution: To draw the graphic of equations (1) and (2) we find three solutions of each of the
equations (1) and (2)

Or,

-2

-1

-3

Now we plot the print (1, -1) (-2, -3) and (4, 1). After joining we get a straight line.
And 3x + 4y + 1 = 0

-3

-1

-4

Again we plot the point (1, -1), (-3, 2) and ((5, -4) on the same graph paper and join then.
Now, we get see that the lines of these two equations intersect at (1, -1).
. Is the solution of the system of equations.

Example 11. Solve graphically the system of linear equations:

Solution:- Let us take

When

When

When
x

-3

1.5

-0.5

3.5

We plot the point (0, 1.5) (3, -0.5) and (-3, 3.5) on a graph paper and join them which is a straight
line.
And 2x +3y = -11

When

When

When
x

-1
y

-4
-3

>2
-1

-5

Again we plot the points (-1, -3), (-4, -1) and (2, -5) on the same graph paper and join then we
get a straight line which is parallel to previous line. The lines do not intersect and hence we get
no solution.

Example 12. Solve the following system of equation graphically.

Solution:- Let us take the equation

When

When

When
x
y

1
-2

3
-1

5
0

We plot the points (1, -2), (3, -1) and (5, 0) on a graph paper and join them. We get a straight
line.
Now, we take equation

When x = 1, y = -2
When x = 3, y = -1
When x = 5, y = 0.
We see the points are same as in equation (1). Hence these points line on the previous line. If we
consider the joins of these points separately, we can say that one line is totally covered by the
other hence: there are infinitely many solution of the system of equation.

Example 13. Draw the graphs of the equations

and

Deter mine the vertices of the triangle formed by the lines representing these equations and the xaxils. Shade the triangular region so formed.
Solution: - Let us take the equation

When,
When,
When,
x
y

o
-4

1
0

2
4

We plot the points (0, -4), (1, 0) and (2, 4) on the graph paper and join them. We get a straight
line. Now we take the line AB.
4x + y = 121

When x = 2, y = 12 - 4 x 2 = 4
When x = 3, y = 12 - 4 x 3 = 0

When x = 4, y = 12 - 4 x 4 = -4.

-4

We plot the points (2, 4) (3, 0) and (4, -4) on the same graph paper. on joining them we get a line
CD which intersect previous line AB. at P (2, 4)
AB intersects the x-axis at (1, 0) and CD intersects the x-axis at (3, 0)
Hence the vertices of the triangle PBD are (2, 4), (1, 0) and (3, 0) . The required region is shaded.
1. Solve the following system of equations graphically:
<br/>
(i) 2x + 3y +5 = 0
3x - 2y -12 = 0

(ii) 2x + 3y =12
x-y=1

(iii) 3x + 2y = 9
2x - y + 1 = 0

(iv) 2x + 3y = 6
4x + 6y = 24

(v) 5x - y - 7 = 0
x-y+1=0

(vi) 2x + 3y - 1 = 0
(x + 3/2) y - 2 = 0

2. Solve the following system of linear equations graphically and then find the points where the
lines meet y-axis:

(i) 2x + y - 5 = 0

(ii) 2x - y - 5 = 0

x+y-3=0

x-y-3=0

(iii) 3x + y - 5 = 0
2x - y - 5 = 0

(iv) 2x + 3y -12 = 0
2x - y - 4 = 0

(v) 2x + y - 11 = 0
x-y-1=0

(vi) 2x - y = 1
x + 2y = 8

3. Solve the following system of linear equations graphically and shade the area bounded by
these lines and y-axis:

(i) x + 2y - 7 = 0
2x - y - 4 = 0

(ii) x - y = 1
2x + y = 8

(iii) 3x + y - 11 = 0
x - y -1 = 0

(iv) 2x - y = 8
8x + 3y = 24

Applications to practical problems:

There are some practical problems which can be sowed by reducing then to linear equations and
then sowing then. Let us try to solve some of them;
Example 14. Five years ago, Neeta was trice as old as Reeta. Ten years later, Neeta will be twice
as old as Reeta, How old are Neeta and Reeta now?
Solution:- Let present age of Neeta be x years and that of Reeta be y years.
5 years ago age of Neeta = x - 5
and 5 years ago age of Reeta = y - 5

10 years later age of Neeta = x + 10

10 years later age of Reeta = y + 10

Or,
Subtracting equation (1) from equation (2) we get

Putting y = 20 in equation (2) we get

x - 2 x 20 - 10 - 0
x - 50 = 0
x = 50
Age of Neeta = 50 years and age of Reeta = 20 years

Example 15.Three chairs and two tables cost Rs 1850. Five chairs and three tables cost Rs 2850.
Find the cost of two chairs and two tables.
Solutions:- Let price of one chair be Rs. x and price of one table be Rs. y.
Price of 3 chairs and 2 tables is 3x + 2y
and price of 5 chairs and 3 tables is 5x + 3y

and 3x + 2y = 1850 ------------------- (2)

Multiplying equation (1) be 2 and equation (2) by 3 and then subtracting (2) from (1) we get

Putting x = 150 in equation (2) we get

Cost of 2 chairs and 2 tables

Example 16. The sum of two digit number and the number obtained by reversing the order of its
digit is 99. If the digits differ by 3, find the number.
Solution: Let the digit at unit's place be x and that at tens place be y .
Original number = 10y + x
Reversed number = 10x + y

Also,
When x - y = 3 ---------------- (2)
and x + y = 9
Adding we get 2x = 12

From (1) we get y = 3

Original number = 10y + x

= 36
When x - y = -3 ------------------ (3)
Adding (1) and (3) we get
and from (1) we get y = 6
Original number = 10y + x
= 63
Hence the number is 36 or 63.
Example 17. A person can row downstream 20 km in 2 hours and upstream 4 km in 2 hours.
Find mans speed of rowing is still water and the speed of the current.
Solution:- Let mans speed of rowing be x km/h and speed of the current y km/h
Down stream speed = x + y
and upstream speed = x - y

Or, x + y = 10 -------------------(1)
and (x - y) x 2 = 4
Or, x - y = 2 ---------------------(2)
Adding (1) and (2) we get 2x = 12 Or, x = 6
Putting x = 6 in (1) we get 6 + y = 10 Or y = 4
Speed of man =6km/h and speed of current =4km/h
Example 18. The sum of the munerator and denominator of a fraction is 3 less than twice the
denominator. If the numerator and denominator are decreased by 1, the numerator becomes half
the denominator. Determine the fraction.

Solution: - Let numerator be x and denominator be y

A/Q x + y = 2y - 3
or, x - y + 3 = 0 -------------(1)
and x - 1 = 1/2(y - 1)
or, 2x - y - 1 = 0 ---- -----(2)
Subtracting equation (1) form (2) we get

x=4
From (1) 4 - y + 3 = 0
y=7
Fraction = x/y = 4/7
Example 19. Two places A and B are 120 km apart from each other on a highway. A car starts
from A B and another from B at the same time. If they move in the same direction, they meet in 6
hours and if they move in opposite directions, they meet in 1 hour and 12 minutes. Find the
speeds of the cars.
Solution: - Let the speed of car at A be X km/h and speed of car at B be y km/h
Distance covered by car at A in 6 hours = 6x
and distance covered by car at B in 6 hours = 6y

or, x + y = 100 ------------------- (2)

Adding (1) and (2) we get
2x = 120
x = 60
Putting x = 60 in (2) we get y = 40
Speeds of car are 60 km/h & 40 km/h.
Example 21. Aftab tells his daughter, Seven years ago, I was seven times as old as you were
then . Also, three years from now, I shall be three times as old as you will be. Represent this
situation algebraically and graphically.
Solution :- Let the present age of Aftab be x and that of his daughter y.
7 years ago, age of Aftab = x - 7 and age of his daughter = y - 7.
According to question,
Or,

x - 7 = 7(y - 7)

x - 7y + 42 = 0 --- --- --- --- (1)

After 3 years, age of Aftab = x + 3 and age of his daughter = y + 3.

According to question,
Or,

x + 3 = 3(y + 3)

x 3y 6 = 0 --- --- --- --- (2)

The above statement represented algebraically are (1) and (2).

To represent graphically, draw the graph. The points are given below:
For equation (1) :-&

14

12

For equation (2) :-