Chapter 1 :

LINEAR EQUATIONS
1.1

INTRODUCTION OF LINEAR EQUATIONS

A linear equation in one unknown is an equation which contains one or

more linear terms in one unknown. (Ex : x + 5 = 11)
A numerical value is a solution of a given linear equation in one
unknown if value satisfies the equation.
The solution of a linear equation is also known as the root of the
equation.

Example 1
Given that 5m 11 = 21 3m, find the
value of m.

Example 2
Solve the equation 2x/7 3 = - 9
Solution

Solution
5m 11 = 21 3m
5m + 3m = 21 + 11
8m = 32
m = 32/8
=4

2x/7 = - 9 + 3
2x/7 = - 6
2x = - 42
x = - 42/2
= - 21

A linear equation in two variables is an equation consists of linear

terms in two variables and a constant. (Ex : x + 3y = 8)

 Simultaneous linear equations in two variables are two linear

equations with two similar variables and have a common solution. ( Ex :
3x y = 1 and 4x + y = 6)
Simultaneous linear equations in two variables can be solved by
o Elimination method
o Substitution method
By Elimination :

By Substitution :

Example 4

Example 3
Solve the following simultaneous
linear equation.

Solve the following simultaneous

linear equation.

x y = -6
5x y = -2

x + y = 9 ..
y = 2x..

Solution

Substitute
x + 2x = 9
3x = 9
x=3

1
x y = -6 .. 11
5x y = -2 .. 2

: 4x = 4
x=1
Substitute x = 1 into
1 y = -6
y=7
2

1.2

into

Substitute x = 3 into
y = 2 (3)
=6

1
2

GRAPH OF LINEAR EQUATIONS

The graph of the solution set of an equation in two variables, usually called the
graph of the equation, is the set of all points with coordinates (x, y) that satisfy
the equation.
In this chapter, we are primarily interested in a particular kind of equation in x
and y and the graph of that equation.

 The equations we refer to involve x and y to the first power, and they are called
linear equations.
An equation of the form,
Ax + By = C
in which A and B cannot both be zero, is called the standard form for a line. Its
graph is always a line.

Graphing by Plotting Points

Example 5
Graph the equation
x+y=5
This is a linear equation in two variables. To draw its graph, we can begin by
assigning values to x and finding the corresponding values for y. For instance, if
x = 1, we have
1+y=5
Y=4
Therefore, (1, 4) satisfies the equation and is on the graph of x + y = 5.
Similarly, (2, 3), (3, 2), and (4, 1) are in the graph. Often these results are
recorded in a
table of values, as shown below. We then plot the points determined and draw a
line through
those points.
x+y=5

Every point on the graph of the equation x + y = 5 has coordinates that satisfy
the equation, and every point with coordinates that satisfy the equation lies on
the line.
The following algorithm summarizes our first approach to graphing a
linear equation in two variables.

Two particular points are often used in graphing an equation because they are very
easy to find. The x intercept of a line is the point at which the line crosses the x
axis. If the x intercept exists, it can be found by setting y = 0 in the equation and
solving for x. The y intercept is the point at which the line crosses the y axis. If the
y intercept exists, it is found by letting x = 0 and solving for y.

Graphing by the Intercept Method

Example 6

Use the intercepts to graph the equation

x - 2y = 6
To find the x intercept, let y = 0.
x - 2(0 ) = 6
x=6
The x intercept is (6, 0).
To find the y intercept, let x = 0.
0 - 2y = 6
-2y = 6
y = -3
The y intercept is (0, -3).
Graphing the intercepts and drawing the line through those intercepts, we have the
desired
graph.

The following algorithm summarizes the steps of graphing a line by the

intercept method.

When can the intercept method not be used? Some lines have only one intercept.
For instance, the graph of x _ 2y _ 0 passes through the origin. In this case, other
points must be used to graph the equation.

Graphing a Line That Passes Through the Origin

Example 7

Graph x + 2y = 0.
Letting y = 0, gives
x + 2(0) = 0
x=0
Thus (0, 0) is a solution, and the line has only one intercept.
We continue by choosing any other convenient values for x. If x = 2:
2 + 2y = 0
2y = -2
y=1

So (2, _1) is a solution. You can easily verify that (4, -2) is also a solution. Again,
plotting the points and drawing the line through those points, we have the desired
graph.

1.3 Algebraic Formulae

A variable is a quantity which has a value that is not fixed. This quantity is
usually represented by a letter.
An algebraic formula is an equation relating several variables and constants.
(Ex : J = 2x + 3v)
The subject of an algebraic formula is a variable that is expresses in terms of
other variables. (Ex : P = 5x2 y
P is the subject.

Example 8

Given 2mn 4m = 5n, express n in

terms of m.

Example 9

Given that j =

e
6+e

of j.
Solution
j=
2mn 4m = 5n
2mn 5n = 4m

J(6 + e) = e

e
6+e

, express e in terms

n(2m 5) = 4m
n = 4m
2m - 5

6j + je = e
e je = 6j
e(1 j) = 6j
e=
6j
1-j

~ THE END ~