ENGG MATH 1 – Precalculus

LINEAR EQUATIONS 3. 2 x  3 x  4 3x  5
LESSON THREE:  
I. LINEAR EQUATIONS 2 4 2
Definitions:
4. 3x  1 x  2 3 x
OBJECTIVES: A statement of equality between two quantities or   
At the end of the lesson, the algebraic expressions is called an EQUATION. 4 2 2 3
student should be able to:
5. 2 3 4
The two quantities are called MEMBERS of the   3
TLO 3: solve problems involving x x x
systems of linear equations equation.
4 5
6. 
References: In an equation, the literal numbers whose values are x4 x5
- Algebra and Trigonometry. (A being determined are called the UNKNOWNS or
6 x  5 3x  2
Pre-Calculus Approach), 1983,
Sobel, Max A. & Lerner, Norbert,
VARIABLES. 7. 
Prentice-Hall, Inc. Englewood 2x  3 x 1
Cliffs, New Jersey A SOLUTION of an equation is a set of values of the 5 3 8
- College Algebra (Revised Edition), 8.  
unknowns satisfying the equation.
Catalina Dinio Mijares x 1 x  3 x  2
- College Algebra, Carbonell,
Guevarra, Tabamo (2004), When an equation involves only one unknown, each 9. 14 7 1
University of Santo Tomas,
 
Philippines
solution is called a ROOT of the equation.
x 9 x 3 x 3
2

10. 2 12 3
REMINDERS: EXTRANEOUS ROOTS are values of the unknown  
PRELIM QUIZ NO. 3 After this lesson obtained from derived equations which do not satisfy 2x  3 9  4x 2 2x  3
the original equation.
LITERAL EQUATIONS
SOLVING EQUATIONS – to solve an equation is to
find all of its solutions. A Literal Equation is an equation involving at least 2 letters or unknowns. Solving for a
particular variable of a literal equation is separating the unknown on one side of the equation and
1. If equal members be added to, subtracted from, multiplied by, divided by the same the rest of the letters on the other side.
numbers, the results are equal. (Note: Division of zero is excluded)
Exercises: Solve for the indicated letters
m m 1/m
2. If a = b, then a =b and a = b 1 / m, provided a, b, and m are not zero.
a. I = PRT, solve for R
LINEAR EQUATION – an equation of the first degree. 𝑟𝐿−𝑎
b. Solve for L, r and a of the equation 𝑠= 𝑟−𝐿
SOLUTION OF A LINEAR EQUATION IN ONE UNKNOWN 1
c. (5𝐹 − 160) = 𝐶 , Solve for F
9
1. Transpose all terms involving the unknown to one member and all other terms to the
other member. Combine terms in the unknown.
2. Divide both sides by the coefficient of the unknown. I. SYSTEMS OF TWO LINEAR EQUATIONS
3. To check, substitute the result in the original equation.
Consider two linear equations in two unknowns x and y
Exercises: Solve the following equation and check. a1 x  b1 y  c1
a2 x  b2 y  c 2
1. 3x – 5 = 7 – x
2. 4 (x – 3) = 2x – 2

Prepared by: Engr. Caroline Bautista-Moncada ENGGMATH 1

This system of two linear equations in two unknowns is called the simultaneous linear ax+by+cz=d
equations in two unknowns. A pair of numbers x and y which satisfies both equations is called
simultaneous solution of the given equations. where a,b,c, and d are constants and a,b, and c are not equal to zero

THREE METHODS OF SOLVING SYSTEMS OF TWO LINEAR EQUATIONS To solve a system of three linear equations in three unknowns, eliminate one unknown from a
chosen pair of equations and then eliminate THE SAME unknown from another pair of equations.
A. GRAPHICAL METHOD Then solve simultaneously.
2x  y  3z  19 2x  3y  4z  20
Consistent equations have a unique solution and the graph is a pair of intersecting lines. The point Ex. a.  b. 
5x  2y  4z  33 3x  5y  2z  13
of intersection of the lines is the solution set of the given pair of equations. 3x  3y  z  2 3x  2y  z  4
 
Ex. x+2y = 7
4x+3y = 8
D. CRAMER’S RULE – another method of solving systems of linear equations
B. SUBSTITUTION METHOD
a. Solve one equation for x in terms of y or for y in terms of x. Substitute this expression for Ax = b
that variable into the other equation
b. Solve the resulting equation in one variable
c. Substitute the solution from step b into either original equation to find the value of the Where A = coefficient matrix
other variable. x = variable matrix
d. Check the solution in both of the given equations. b = constant matrix

Ex. x+2y = 7 Example: Solve for the solutions of the system

4x+3y = 8 2𝑥 + 𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 6
𝑥 + 4𝑦 + 2𝑧 = 8
C. ELIMINATION METHOD 3𝑥 + 5𝑦 + 𝑧 = 2
a. To eliminate one variable, the coefficients in that unknown must be numerically equal. If the
signs of the equal coefficients are unlike, add the equations; if like, subtract them.
Ex. x+2y = 7 HOW TO WORK WITH WORD PROBLEMS
3x-2y = 5
1. Read the problem all the way through quickly to see what kind of word problem it is and what it
b. If the coefficients in one variable are not numerically equal, multiply the given equation or is about.
equations by a constant/s so that the resulting equations would have the same numerical 2. Look for a question at the end of the problem. This is often a good way to start to find what
coefficients in that variable. you are solving for. Sometimes two or three things need to be found.
Ex. 3x-2y = 8 3. Start every problem with "let x=something" (we generally use x for the unknown). You let x
5x-y = 11 equal to what you are trying to find. What you are trying to find is usually stated in the
question at the end of the problem. This is called the unknown. You must show and label what
Exercises: stands for in your problem, or your equation has no meaning.
1 1 5 4. If you have to find more than one quantity or unknown, try to determine the smallest unknown.
4x-5y = 14 3x+2y-2=0 
 This unknown is often the one to let x be equal to.
a. b. c. x y 6
7x+3y = 1 4x-y+12=1 4 3
5. Go back and read the problem again. This time read it one piece at a time. Simple problems
 3 generally have two statements. One statement helps you set up the unknowns, and the other
x y gives you the equation information. Translate the problem from words to symbols one piece at
a time.
II. SYSTEMS OF THREE LINEAR EQUATIONS
A linear equation in three variables is of the form

Prepared by: Engr. Caroline Bautista-Moncada ENGGMATH 1

  AGE PROBLEMS
1. Six years ago, Jim was four times as old as Fe. In four years, he would be twice as old as Fe.
How old are they now?
2. The sum of the ages of Rex, Belen and Alfred is 36 years. Two years ago, Ben was three times
as old as Rex was then, and 8 years from now Alfred will be twice as old as Ben will be then.
Find the present ages of each.

 MOTION PROBLEMS Distance = rate x time ; d = rt

1. Determine the speed of a motor boat in still water and the speed of the river current, if it takes
3 hours to travel a distance of 45mi upstream and 2 hours to travel 50mi downstream.
2. When an airplane flies with a given wind, it can travel 3000 km in 5 hours. When the same
airplane flies in the opposite direction against the wind, it takes 10 hours to fly the same
distance. Find the speed of the plane in still air and the speed of the wind.

amount of work done

 WORK PROBLEMS rate of work=
actual time to finish the wok
, or

 Amount of 
 Amount of   Amount of   
 
  
  work done 
 work done by A   work done by B   together 
Solve each of the following systems of equations  
1 1
x  y  4 1. A and B working together can do a job in 20/3 hours. A became ill after 3 hours of working with
 x  3y  z  4   1 B and B finished the job, continuing the work along in 33/4 more hours. How long would it
a.  b.  1 1 c.  y  x  3 by substitution method
3x  2y  4z  11   5  2 take each working alone to do the job?
2x  y  3z  13 x z 3x  2y  10 2. Chano can finish an accounting work in 8 hrs. Allan can finish the same work in 6 hrs. After 2

1 1 hours of working together, Chano left Allan for lunch and Allan finished the job. How long
y  z  2 does it take Allan to finish the job?

d. 3x  y  6 by elimination  BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT PROBLEMS

2x  3y  7 1. A cook finds that the expenses for student lunch consist of fixed cost and cost per guest. If the
expense for a class of 30 students is P 1,075 and for 40 students is P1,425, find the fixed
costs and costs per student.
WORD PROBLEMS AND APPLICATIONS
2. A man divides $ 10,000 among three investments at 4%, 5% and 6% per annum, respectively.
His total income is $515 per year. His income from the 5% and 6% investments exceeds the
 NUMBER RELATION PROBLEMS income at 4% by $415. Find how much is invested at each rate.
1. Twice the sum of two numbers exceeds three times their difference by 8, while half the sum is
one more than the difference. What are the numbers?  MIXTURE PROBLEMS
2. The sum of three numbers is 16. The sum of twice the first number, 3 times the second
1. Forty liters of a 60% saline solution to be reduced to a 45% solution. How much solution must
number, and 4 times the third number is 46. The difference between 5 times the first number
be drained off and replaced with distilled water so that the resulting solution contains only
and the second number is 31. Find the three numbers.
45% solution?
3. Three times the tens' digit of a certain two-digit number is two more than four times the units' 2. Solution A is 30% acid and solution B is 60% acid. How many gallons of each solution must be
digit. The difference between the number given and the number obtained by reversing the used to create a 60 gallon mixture that is 50% acid?
digits is two less than twice the sum of the digits. Find the number. 3. You are to reduce the concentration of a 50-gallon 40% alcohol solution to only a 16%
concentration. How much distilled water should be added?

Prepared by: Engr. Caroline Bautista-Moncada ENGGMATH 1