244 Part IV: And the Rest . . .

We discuss all these techniques in detail in this chapter. And if that’s not enough infor-
mation for you, we also discuss systems of inequalities, which can only be solved by
graphing.

Solving Two Linear Equations

with Two Variables
When you’re presented with a system of linear equations in two variables, the best
methods to solve them are known as substitution and elimination. As we mention ear-
lier in this chapter, you can use either method to solve any system of this type, but
textbooks usually show you both methods because each one has its unique advan-
tages. In keeping with this spirit, we show you both methods, but we also explain when
to use both as well.

Just remember that with each system of equations in two variables, you have to find
the solution to both variables, usually x and y. Don’t stop until you have both, or else
you may only get half the credit on your next test for doing half the work.

Also remember that sometimes, systems of equations don’t have a solution.

Remember when you used to graph two straight lines on one graph to determine the
point of intersection? Well, because that’s the least accurate of all the methods to
solve, mathematicians came up with the other methods that we talk about in this
chapter. However, if you recall, sometimes the two lines were parallel to each other —
without an intersection! This meant that there was no solution. The fact that there may
be no solution may pop up from time to time using these other methods as well.

So how will you recognize a system of equations with no solution without using a
graph? That’s easy — you end up with an equation that just doesn’t make sense. It may
say 2 = 7 or –1 = 10, but you’ll know right away that it has no solution. It’s also possible
that you’re given the same line (in disguise) twice. If you were to graph that system,
you’d end up with one line on top of another.

These two lines share infinite points, so you say that the system has infinite solutions.
These equations boil down at some point to an identity — the left and right sides of the
equation are exactly the same (such as 2 = 2, or 10x = 10x, or 4y – 3 = 4y – 3), and these,
too, are easy to recognize.

The substitution method

In the substitution method, you solve one equation for one variable and then substitute
this expression for that variable in the other equation. If one of the two equations
you’re given has already been solved for one variable, huge bells and whistles should
go off inside your head. You know you’ve got a winner for the substitution method. Of
course, if one equation can be easily solved for one variable (one variable has a coeffi-
cient of 1), you also know that substitution is a good bet.
 Chapter 13: Finding Solutions for Systems of Equations 245
Q. Solve the system of equations: that you know half of your answer (y in this
case), you can substitute that value into
. one of the original equations to get the
other half (x).

A. x = 3, y = 1. Notice how the first equation Save yourself some time and steps
says “x = . . . ”? This tells you to use substi- by substituting the first answer you
tution. You can take this expression and get into the equation that has
substitute it into the other equation where already been solved for a variable.
it says x. This gets you 2(4y – 1) + 5y = 11. For this example, because you know
The substitution method makes your job that x = 4y – 1 and you figure out that
easier because you end up with one equa- y = 1, it takes very few steps to figure
tion in one variable — and this one is easy out that x = 3.
to solve! When you do, you get y = 1. Now

1. Use substitution to solve the system 2. The sum of two numbers is 14 and their dif-
ference is 2. Find the numbers.

Solve It
Solve It

The elimination method

Elimination is the method of choice when both of the linear equations given to you are
written in standard form:

Ax + By = C

Dx + Ey = F

where A, B, C, D, E, and F are all real numbers. It’s called standard form because it’s
supposed to be the standard way that textbooks depict linear equations. But the truth
is that textbook authors like to keep you on your toes so they write linear equations in
all kinds of forms.

In the two equations, if the x and y terms are opposite of each other, then you should
choose elimination. In the elimination method, you add the two equations together so that
one of the variables disappears (is eliminated). Sometimes, however, you must multiply
one or both equations by a constant in order for the terms to have opposite signs. This
way, when you add the two equations together, one of the variables will be eliminated.
246 Part IV: And the Rest . . .

Q. Solve the system . Q. Solve the system .

A. x = 2, y = –2. Notice that you could solve A. x = 1, y = –1. To solve this system by sub-
this system using substitution, because in stitution is possible, but it would eventu-
the second equation, you can solve for y by ally mean dividing one of the coefficients
subtracting 3x from both sides. But notice and creating those ugly fractions we all
that the y terms are exact opposites of hate. Instead, you can avoid the fractions
each other. If you add the two equations by using the elimination method. The fact
you get 5x = 10. This means that you can that both equations are written in standard
divide both sides by 5 to easily solve for x form is another vote in favor of the elimina-
and get x = 2. Substituting this back into tion method. Notice that the y terms have
either equation, you find that y = –2. opposite signs, so you can eliminate them
(you can eliminate any variable you
choose, but it’s all about the least amount
of steps). It’s a little like you’re finding the
least common multiple of both coefficients,
in this case the 3 and the 5. The smallest
number that both of those go into is 15, so
you have to multiply the top equation by 5
and the bottom equation by 3. This gives

you . Adding these two

equations together gives you 22x = 22,

which gives you the solution x = 1. You
then have to substitute this value back into
one of the two original equations to solve
for y. In this example, y = –1.

4. Solve the system .

3. Solve the system .
Solve It
Solve It
 Chapter 13: Finding Solutions for Systems of Equations 255
There Is No Spoon: Working with a Matrix
A matrix is a collection of numbers arranged in rows and columns. Each number inside
the matrix is called an element. A matrix comes in handy when you have a bunch of
data that you need to keep track of. Usually, a matrix is named by its dimensions, or
how big it is. This is also sometimes known as the order of the matrix and is always the
number of rows by the number of columns. For example, if matrix M is , it has four
rows and three columns. After the data is organized in this fashion, you can add, sub-
tract, and even multiply matrices.

There’s no such thing as matrix division, so don’t worry about it. There’s also an oper-
ation known as scalar multiplication, which means you multiply the entire matrix by a
constant.

To add or subtract matrices, you have to operate on their corresponding elements. In

other words, you add or subtract the first row/first column in one matrix to or from the
exact same element in another matrix. The two matrices must have the same dimensions;
otherwise, an element in one matrix won’t have a corresponding element in the other.

Figure 13-3 shows two matrices and what their sum and differences are. Figure 13-4
shows the scalar multiplication 3A.

–5 1 –3 2 4 5
A= 6 0 2 B = –8 10 3
2 6 1 –2 –3 –9

Figure 13-3:
Addition and
subtraction –3 5 2 –7 –3 –8
of matrices. A + B = –2 10 5 A − B = 14 –10 –1
0 3 –8 4 9 10

Figure 13-4:
Multiplying –5 1 –3 –15 3 –9
3A = 3 6 0 2 = 18 0 6
matrix A
2 6 1 6 18 3
by 3.

Multiplying matrices is another can of worms. First of all, to multiply two matrices AB
(the matrices are written right next to each other, with no symbol in between), the
number of columns in matrix A must match the number of rows in matrix B. If matrix A
is and matrix B is , the product AB has dimensions . And remember,
when it comes to matrix multiplication, AB doesn’t equal BA; in fact, just because AB
exists doesn’t even mean that BA does as well.

For all problems in this section, M = ,N= , and

P= .
256 Part IV: And the Rest . . .

Q. Find 3M – 2N. Q. Find MP.

A. . A.
First, substitute in each given equation:
You need to multiply each element of each
.
row of the left matrix by each element of
each column of the right matrix.
Follow the order of operations and The sum of the first row times the first
multiply in the scalars: column: –5(–1) – 1(4) + 3(2) + 6(–5) = –23.
This is the first row, first column answer.
.
The sum of the first row times the second
column: –5(2) – 1(4) + 3(3) + 6(2) = 7. This
Then subtract the two matrices, watching
is the first row, second column answer.
the negative signs: . The sum of the first row times the third
column: –5(–1) – 1(0) + 3(1) + 6(–1) = 2.
This is the first row, third column answer.
The sum of the second row times the
first column: 0(–1) + 2(4) – 2(2) + 6(–5) =
–26. This is the second row, first column
answer.
The sum of the second row times the
second column: 0(2) + 2(4) – 2(3) + 6(2) =
14. This is the second row, second
column answer.
The sum of the second row times the
third column: 0(–1) + 2(0) – 2(1) + 6(–1)
= –8. This is the second row, third
column answer.
Putting these all into a matrix gives you
the answer .
 Chapter 13: Finding Solutions for Systems of Equations 257
23. Find 4N. 24. Find 4N + 5M.

Solve It Solve It

25. Find 3M – P. 26. Find NP.

Solve It Solve It

Getting It in the Right Form:

Simplifying Matrices
You can write any system of equations in matrix form. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Write all the coefficients in one matrix, called the coefficient matrix. Each
equation gets its own row in the matrix, and each variable gets its own column,
written in the same order as the equations.
2. Multiply this times another column matrix with all the variables in it, called
the variable matrix, in order from top to bottom.
3. Set this product equal to a column matrix with the answers in it, sometimes
called the answer matrix.