Chapter 3:

System of Equations
& Inequalities
System of Equations &
Inequalities
• System of Linear
Equation
• System of Non-Linear
Equation
• System of Inequalities
• Linear Programming
System of Linear
Equations
System of Linear Equation
• A system of linear equations is a set of two or
more linear equations containing two or more
variables.
• A solution of a system of linear equations with
two variables is an ordered pair that satisfies
each equation in the system. So, if ordered
The an ordered
pair (4,1)
pair is a solution, it will make both
makes equations
both equations
true. true.
• Example (4,1) is a solution of
the system.
Systems of linear equations in two variables have either
no solutions, one solution, or infinitely many solutions.
y y y

x x x

unique solution infinitely many no solutions

solutions

A system of equations with at least one solution is consistent.

A system with no solutions is inconsistent.

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. All rights

reserved.
System of Linear Equation
• Solve system of linear equation using:
1. Graphing
2. Substitution
3. Elimination
Solving Linear
Equations by
Graphing
  x – y = –1
To solve the system  by the graphing
 2x + y = 4
method, graph both equations and determine where the
graphs intersect. y

(1, 2)
x – y = –1
x
2x + y = 4

The ordered pair (1, 2) is the unique solution.

The system is consistent since it has solutions.
Example: Solve the system  x – 2y = – 4 by the

graphing method.  3x – 6y = 6

x – 2y = – 4

3x – 6y = 6

The lines are parallel and have no point of intersection.

The system has no solutions and is inconsistent.
  x – 2y = – 4
Example: Solve the system  by the graphing
3x – 6y = – 12
method.
y

3xx –– 6y
2y == –– 12
4

The graphs of the two equations are the same line and the
intersection points are all the points on this line.
The system has infinitely many solutions.
Try Yourself: Solve the system of linear
equation using graph.

The ordered pair

(1,1) is the
unique solution.

y = 3x - 2 y = -3x + 4
Solving Linear
Equations by
Substitution
 Solving Systems of Equations by Substitution
Step 1: Solve for one variable in at least one
equation, if necessary.
Step 2: Substitute the resulting expression into the
other equation.
Step 3: Solve that equation to get the value of the
first variable.
Step 4: Substitute that value in to one of the
original equations and solve.
Step 5: Write the values from Step 3 and 4 as an
ordered pair (x , y), and check.
  2x + y = 8
Example: Solve the system  by the substitution
 x – 3y = – 3
method.

1. From the second equation obtain x = 3y – 3.

2. Substitute this expression for x into the first equation.

2(3y –3) + y = 8

3. Solve for y to obtain y = 2.

4. Substitute 2 for y in x = 3y – 3 and conclude x = 3.

The solution is (3, 2).

5. Check: 2(3) + (2) = 8


 (3) – 3(2) = –3
  2x – y = 10
Example: Solve the system  by the substitution
method. 4x – 2y = 8

1. From the first equation obtain y = 2x – 10.

2. Substitute 2x – 10 for y into the second equation to produce

4x – 2(2x – 10) = 8.

3. Attempt to solve for x.

4x – 2(2x – 10) = 8
4x – 4x + 20 = 8
20 = 8 False statement
Because there are no values of x and y for which 20 equals 8, this
system has no solutions.
Try Yourself: Solve the system using the
substitution.
4x + 2y = 10
x – y = 13
x = y + 13
x = (-7) +13
4 (y + 13) + 2y = 10 x=6
4y + 52 + 2y = 10
6y = 10 – 52 The solution is (6, -7).
6y = - 42
y = -7
Solving Linear
Equations by
Elimination
An equation stays balanced if equal amounts are
added to both sides. Consider the system
 x – 2y = 19

. Since 5x + 2y =1, 5x +2y can be added to one


 5x + 2y = 1

side of the first equation and 1 to the other side

and the balance is maintained.
Since -2y and 2y have
opposite coefficients, y can be
eliminated by adding two
equations. The results is one
equation that has only one
variables: 6x = -18.
 Solving System of Equations by Elimination

Step 1: Write the system so that like terms are

aligned.
Step 2: Eliminate one of the variables and solve
for the other variable.
Step 3: Substitute the value of the variable into
one of the original equations and solve for the
other variable.
Step 4: Write the answers from Steps 2 and 3 as
an orders pair, (x, y), and check.
Elimination Using Addition
Elimination Using Subtraction
 Elimination Using Multiplication
First
Solve by elimination
Try Yourself: Solve the system using the
elimination.
8x - 6y = -20
-16x + 7y = 30
2(8x - 6y = -20) 8x – 6y = -20
-16x + 7y = 30 8x – 6(2) = -20
16x – 12y = -40 8x – 12 = -20
+ (-16x +7y = 30) 8x = -8
x = -1
0 – 5y = -10
y=2 The solution is (-1,2).
Solving a System of
Three or More
Equations
Solving a System of Three or More
Equations
For a system of three or more linear equations to
have a solution, all of the lines must intersect at the
same point.

The fact that two lines intersect at a point (a, b) does

not ensure that the third line will intersect the first
two lines at the same point.
Example : Solving a System of Three
Equations
Solve the following system of equations.

Solution:
We will find the point of intersection of the first two equations and then
check to see if the point is a solution to the third equation.
Example: Solution
The first equation may be written as y = 2x – 5. Substituting
this value in for y in the second equation and solving for x
yields
Example: Solution
We substitute this value of x into y = 2x – 5 and solve.

The point of intersection of the first two lines is (3, 1). We will check
to see if this point satisfies the third equation.
Example: Solution
Since the resultant statement is true, the solution to the system of
equations is x = 3 and y = 1. (A false statement would have shown
that the system was inconsistent.) We confirm the result in Figure
2.21.

Figure 2.21
 System of Non-
Linear Equations
 System of Non-Linear Equation

A system of two nonlinear equations in two variables contains at least one

equation that cannot be expressed in the form Ax + By = C. Here are two
examples:

x2 = 2y + 10 y = x2 + 3
3x – y = 9 x 2 + y2 = 9
A solution to a nonlinear system in two variables is an ordered pair of real
numbers that satisfies all equations in the system. The solution set to the
system is the set of all such ordered pairs.
 Solving Non-
Linear Equations
Using
Substitution
 The substitution method we used for
linear systems is the same method we
will use for nonlinear systems. We
solve one equation for one variable
and then substitute the result into the
second equation to solve for another
variable, and so on. There is, however,
a variation in the possible outcomes.
 Intersection of a
Parabola and a Line
There are three possible types of solutions
for a system of nonlinear equations
involving a parabola and a line.

•No solution - The line will never intersect the

parabola.
•One solution - The line is tangent to the
parabola and intersects the parabola at exactly
one point.
•Two solutions - The line crosses on the inside of
the parabola and intersects the parabola at two
points.
How to: Given a system of equations containing
a line and a parabola, find the solution
1.Solve the linear equation for one of the
variables.
2.Substitute the expression obtained in step one
into the parabola equation.
3.Solve for the remaining variable.
4.Check your solutions in both equations.
Example: Solving a System of Nonlinear
Equations Representing a Parabola and a Line.
Solve the system of equations.

Solution:
Intersection of a
Circle and a Line
Just as with a parabola and a line, there are
three possible outcomes when solving a
system of equations representing a circle
and a line.
• No solution - The line does not intersect the
circle.
• One solution - The line is tangent to the circle and
intersects the circle at exactly one point.
• Two solutions - The line crosses the circle and
intersects it at two points.
How to: Given a system of equations containing
a line and a circle, find the solution
1.Solve the linear equation for one of the
variables.
2.Substitute the expression obtained in step
one into the equation for the circle.
3.Solve for the remaining variable.
4.Check your solutions in both equations.
Example: Finding the Intersection of a Circle and
a Line by Substitution
Find the intersection of the given circle and the given
line by substitution.

Solution:
 Solving Non-
Linear Equations
Using
Elimination
 We have seen that substitution is often the preferred
method when a system of equations includes a linear
equation and a nonlinear equation. However, when both
equations in the system have like variables of the second
degree, solving them using elimination by addition is
often easier than substitution. Generally, elimination is a
far simpler method when the system involves only two
equations in two variables (a two-by-two system), rather
than a three-by-three system, as there are fewer steps. As
an example, we will investigate the possible types of
solutions when solving a system of equations
representing a circle and an ellipse.
 Illustrates possible solution sets for a system of
equations involving a circle and an ellipse.

• No solution - The circle and ellipse do not intersect. One shape is inside
the other or the circle and the ellipse are a distance away from the
other.
• One solution - The circle and ellipse are tangent to each other, and
intersect at exactly one point.
• Two solutions - The circle and the ellipse intersect at two points.
• Three solutions - The circle and the ellipse intersect at three points.
• Four solutions - The circle and the ellipse intersect at four points.
Example: Solving a System of Nonlinear
Equations Representing a Circle and an Ellipse
Solve the system of non-linear equations.

Solution:
 System of
Inequalities
Graphing System
of Inequalities
1. Write the inequalities in slope-intercept form.
2. Use the slope and y-intercept to plot the lines.
3. Draw in the line. Use a solid line for less than or equal
to () or greater than or equal to (≥). Use a dashed
line for less than (<) or greater than (>).
4. Pick a point above the line or below the line. Test that
point in the inequality. If it makes the inequality true,
then shade the region that contains that point. If the
point makes the inequality false, shade the region on
the other side of the line.
(Don’t forget to flip the sign if you divide by a
negative #)
-Hint: > or ≥ shade above
< or ≤ shade below
1.Systems of inequalities – Follow steps 1-4 for each
inequality. Find the region where the solutions to the
two inequalities would overlap and this is the region
that should be shaded.
Graph the following linear system of inequalities.
y  2x  4
Use the slope and y-
y   3x  2 intercept to plot two
y points for the first
inequality.
Draw in the line. For ≥
use a solid line.

x Pick a point and test

it in the inequality.
Shade the appropriate
region.
Graph the following linear system of inequalities.
y  2x  4 y  2x  4 P o in t (0 ,0 )
y   3x  2 0  2 (0 ) - 4
y 0  -4
The region above the line
should be shaded.

x
Now do the same for the
second inequality.
Graph the following linear system of inequalities.
y  2x  4
Use the slope and y-
y   3x  2 intercept to plot two
y points for the second
inequality.
Draw in the line. For <
use a dashed line.

x Pick a point and test

it in the inequality.
Shade the appropriate
region.
Graph the following linear system of inequalities.
y  2x  4 y   3x  2 P o in t (-2 ,-2 )
y   3x  2 -2  3 (-2 ) + 2
y -2 < 8
The region below the line
should be shaded.

x
Graph the following linear system of inequalities.
y  2x  4
y   3x  2 The solution to this
system of inequalities is
y
the region where the
solutions to each
inequality overlap. This
is the region above or to
the left of the green line
x and below or to the left
of the blue line.
Shade in that region.
Graphing a System of Three Inequalities
Graph the system of linear inequalities.
4. 3x  y 5
y  3x  5
Solid lines
y 1
x 1


51
00 
Graphing a System of Three Inequalities
Graph the system of linear inequalities.

5. x  2 y 6
x  y 3
x 0 Solid lines

10 
603
Graph the following linear systems of inequalities.

1. y  x 4
y x  2
 y  x 4
y x  2
y Use the slope and y-
intercept to plot two
points for the first
inequality.

x Draw in the line.

Shade in the
appropriate region.
 y  x 4
y x  2
y Use the slope and y-
intercept to plot two
points for the second
inequality.

x Draw in the line.

Shade in the
appropriate region.
 y  x 4
y x  2
y
The final solution is the
region where the two
shaded areas overlap
(purple region).
x
Graphing of
Non-Linear
Inequality
 All of the equations in the systems that we have
encountered so far have involved equalities, but we
may also encounter systems that involve
inequalities. We have already learned to graph linear
inequalities by graphing the corresponding
equation, and then shading the region represented
by the inequality symbol. Now, we will follow similar
steps to graph a nonlinear inequality so that we can
learn to solve systems of nonlinear inequalities.
A nonlinear inequality is an inequality containing a
nonlinear expression. Graphing a nonlinear
inequality is much like graphing a linear inequality.
 Recall that when the inequality is greater than,
y > a, or less than , y < a, the graph is drawn
with a dash line. When the inequality is greater
than or equal to, y ≥ a, or less than or equal to, y
≤ a, the graph is drawn with a solid line. The
graphs will create regions in the plane, and we
will test each region for a solution. If one point
in the region works, the whole region works.
That is the region we shade (Figure 7.3.8).
How to: Given an inequality bounded by a parabola, sketch
a graph

1.Graph the parabola as if it were an equation. This is the boundary for

the region that is the solution set.
2.If the boundary is included in the region (the operator is ≤ or ≥) the
parabola is graph as solid line.
3. If the boundary is not included in the region (the operator is < or >)
the parabola is graph as dashed line.
4. Test a point in one of the regions to determine whether it satisfies the
inequality statement. If the statement is true, the solution set is the
region including the point. If the statement is false, the solution set is the
region on the other side of the boundary line.
5.Shade the region representing the solution set.
Graphing an Inequality of Parabola
 Graphing of
System Non-
Linear Inequality
Now that we have learned to graph nonlinear inequalities, we can
learn how to graph systems of nonlinear inequalities. A system of
nonlinear inequalities is a system of two or more inequalities in
two or more variables containing at least one inequality that is
not linear. Graphing a system of nonlinear inequalities is similar
to graphing a system of linear inequalities. The difference is that
our graph may result in more shaded regions that represent a
solution than we find in a system of linear inequalities. The
solution to a nonlinear system of inequalities is the region of the
graph where the shaded regions of the graph of each inequality
overlap, or where the regions intersect, called the feasible
region.
How to: Given a system of nonlinear inequalities, sketch a
graph

1.Find the intersection points by solving the corresponding

system of nonlinear equations.
2.Graph the nonlinear equations.
3.Find the shaded regions of each inequality.
4.Identify the feasible region as the intersection of the
shaded regions of each inequality or the set of points
common to each inequality.
 Linear
Programmin
g
One of the major applications of linear algebra involving
systems of linear equations is in finding the maximum or
minimum of some quantity, such as profit or cost. In
mathematics the process of finding an extreme value
(maximum or minimum) of a quantity (normally called a
function) is known as optimization . Linear
programming (LP) is a branch of Mathematics which deals
with modeling a decision problem and subsequently
solving it by mathematical techniques.
The problem is presented in a form of a linear function
which is to be optimized (i.e maximized or minimized)
subject to a set of linear constraints. The function to be
optimized is known as the objective function .
Linear programming finds many uses in the business and
industry, where a decision maker may want to utilize
limited available resources in the best possible manner. The
limited resources may include material, money, manpower,
space and time. Linear Programming provides various
methods of solving such problems.
Formulation of linear programming
problems
The Graphical Method of Solution
The graphical method of solving a linear programming problem is used
when there are only two decision variables. If the problem has three or
more variables, the graphical method is not suitable.
In that case we use the simplex method which is discussed in the next
section.
•We begin by giving some important definitions and concepts that are used
in the methods of solving linear programming problems.

1. Solution A set of values of decision variables satisfying all the constraints

of a linear programming problem is called a solution to that problem.

2. Feasible solution Any solution which also satisfies the non-negativity

restrictions of the problem is called a feasible solution.
4. Optimal feasible solution Any feasible solution which
maximizes or minimizes the objective function is called an
optimal feasible solution.

5. Feasible region The common region determined by all the

constraints and non-negativity restriction of a LPP is called a
feasible region.
6. Corner point A corner point of a feasible region is a point in
the feasible region that is the intersection of two boundary lines.
The following theorem is the fundamental
theorem of linear programming .
Theorem 0.1.1 If the optimal value of the objective
function in a linear programming problem exists, then
that value must occur at one (or more) of the corner
points of the feasible region.
Example:
A small brewery produces Ale and Beer. Suppose that
production is limited by scarce resources of corn, hops
and barley malt. To make Ale 5kg of Corn, 4kg of hops
and 35kg of malt are required. To make Beer 15kg of
corn, 4 kg of hops and 20kg of malt are required.
Suppose that only 480 kg of corn, 160kg of hops and
1190 kg of malt are available. If the brewery makes a
profit of E13 for each kg of Ale and E23 for each kg of
Beer, how much Ale and Beer should the brewer produce
in order to maximize profit?
Solution
The given information is summarized in the table below.
Beverages Available quantity
Ale Beer
Ingredients
Corn(Kg) 5 15 480
Hops (Kg) 4 4 160
Malt (Kg) 35 20 1190
Profit 13 23

• The decision variables are

1. x1 the amount of Ale to be produced.
2. x2 the amount of Beer to be produced.
References
• https://math.libretexts.org/Courses/Western_Connecticut_State_Uni
versity/Draft_Custom_Version_MAT_131_College_Algebra/07%3A_Sy
stems_of_Equations_and_Inequalities/7.03%3A_Systems_of_Nonline
ar_Equations_and_Inequalities_-_Two_Variables
• Sullivan Precalculus, Chapter 10,
http://www.phschool.com/atschool/georgia/pdfbooks/precalc_egu/S
ullivan_PreC_CH_10.pdf
• Digital Lesson Solving of Linear Equations, https://slideplayer.com/slid
e/13280316/
• http://shs.smyrna.k12.de.us/ourpages/auto/2013/9/26/57711972/sys
tems%20of%20inequalities.ppt