ANALYTIC GEOMETRY: SOLVING LINEAR SYSTEMS

OF

EQUATIONS

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1.

Solve each system of equations by substitution.

a. y 2 x 9
y 2 x 1
d. 3x 3 y 11
x y 5
g. 7 3x y
14 6 x 2 y

2.

3.

b. 3x y 2
8 x 2 y 2
e. 3x 5 y 14 0

c.

2y x 1
9 x 4 y 2

f.

4a b 8
7a 2b 1

i.

6
x

x 3y 2 0

h. 3a b 7 0

15a 5b 13 0

y
1
3
y
3
4

Solve each system of equations by elimination.

a. 2 x 3 y 6
2x 3y 6

b.

7x 2 y 3
4x 4 y 1

c.

3y 6x 7 0
9 y 18 x 9 0

d. 0.4 x 0.3 y 0.1

0.2 x 0.5 y 0.3

e.

3x 9 y
4 y 36 12 x

f.

3
y 11
x
4
3 2
2
3
21
x y
5
2
10

A barn dance fundraiser raises $2,050 for a school. A total of 125 tickets were
sold. The tickets cost $20 for adults and $14 for students. The relationship
between the number of adult tickets sold, a, and the number of student
tickets sold, s, can be modeled by the following system of equations.
a s 125

20a 14s 2050

Find the number of adult tickets and student tickets sold.

4.

Two numbers have a difference of 4. The sum of triple the larger number and four times the smaller
number is 54. What are the numbers?

Expectations: i. solve systems of equations using substitution and elimination.

For more activities and resources from the University of Waterloos Faculty of Mathematics, please visit www.cemc.uwaterloo.ca.

5.

Jason and Greg go to a caf with their friends. If they order two small hot
chocolates and two cookies, their bill totals $4.40. If they order three small hot
chocolates and four cookies, their bill totals $7.50. How much does a small hot
chocolate cost? How much does a cookie cost?

6.

Three lines y 2 x 1 0 , 3 y 7 x 10 0 , and 2 y 17 x 50 0 intersect to form a triangle. Find the

coordinates of the vertices of the triangle.

7.

Solve the following system of equations. Geometrically, what does the result mean?
3x y 13 0
4x 2 y 4 0
5 x 3 y 27 0
A Slice of History
Gauss developed a method of elimination that used matrices
to solve least squares problems relating to space and astronomy.
He later used it while making measurements of the earth and
its surface.

8.

Solve the system of equations.

2x 1 3 y 2
(1)

2
5
4
3x 1 5 y 3
(2)

14
5
3

9.

The solution to each linear system is (1, 2). Determine the values of m and n.
a. 3x my 7
b. mx ny 9
c. 6ny 3mx 0
7 x 2ny 3
2ny 5mx 8
3nx 4 y 5

CHALLENGE YOURSELF!
10.

1
1
Solve this system of equations for x and y by letting a and b , x 0, y 0.
x
y
3 2 2

x y 3
8 4 2

x y 9

Expectations: i. solve systems of equations using substitution and elimination.

For more activities and resources from the University of Waterloos Faculty of Mathematics, please visit www.cemc.uwaterloo.ca.

11.

Chuck ran 8 km on the treadmill at the gym. He ran at an average speed of 9 km/h
and walked at an average speed of 5 km/h for the rest. He spent 30 minutes more time
running than walking. How long did it take him to finish his workout?

12.

Solve each system of equations of three or four variables.

a.

yz 0
2x y z 6
x y 3

b.

d.

yz 7
2y z 2
w x y z 4
2w x y 4 z 19

e.

yz 2
2y z 1
x yz 3

x1 x2 2
x1 x2 4
x3 x4 2

c.

f.

x y 1
yz 2
zx3

x 3y 2z 9
2x 5 y z 3
3x 6 y 2 z 8

x3 x4 4

EXTENSIONS
13.

Nancy is travelling with her family to Florida for vacation. To fly, there are weight
restrictions on her baggage. If she brings two identical carry-on bags and one
checked baggage, the total weight is 69.5 lbs. If she brings one carry-on and two
identical checked baggage, the total weight is 100 lbs. Nancys bags are full. The
airline has a maximum weight of 50 lb for checked bags and 22 lb for carry-on
baggage.
a.
b.

14.

Determine the weights of Nancys carry-on bag and checked baggage.

Does Nancys carry-on and checked baggage meet the guidelines?

If the system of equations ax by cz 6

bx cy az 1
cx ay bz 1
has the solution (2, 1, 1) , find the values of a, b, and c.

15.

Solve the system of equations to find x, y, and z.

x2 y 2 z 2 9
3x 2 y 2 z 2 7
y2 2z2 6

(Hint: Let d x2 , e y 2 , and f z 2 . Find d, e, and f first.)

16.

Solve for x and y.

a. ax by c
ax by d

b.

gx hy 1
hx gy 1

c. ( p q) x ( p q) y 2( p 2 q 2 )
x y 2p

Expectations: i. solve systems of equations using substitution and elimination.

For more activities and resources from the University of Waterloos Faculty of Mathematics, please visit www.cemc.uwaterloo.ca.