POST CLASS NOTES

Pair of Linear Equations in

Two variables
Topics

1. General Form of a Linear Equation

2. Types of Pairs of Linear Equations

3. Methods of Solving Pairs of

Linear Equations

4. Solving non-linear pair of equations

 1. Linear Equations in Two Variables
General Form
Coefficients Constant
𝑎𝑎𝑥𝑥 + 𝑏𝑏𝑦𝑦 + 𝑐𝑐 = 0
Variables

where, a and b are non-zero real numbers

Pair of Linear Equations in Two Variables

Consider two different equations in 𝑥𝑥 and 𝑦𝑦,

2𝑥𝑥 + 7𝑦𝑦 + 5 = 0
8𝑥𝑥 + 3𝑦𝑦 + 3 = 0
These two combined are known as pair of linear equations in two
variables.

General Form of Pair of Linear Equations in Two Variables

𝑎𝑎1𝑥𝑥 + 𝑏𝑏1𝑦𝑦 + 𝑐𝑐1 = 0

𝑎𝑎2𝑥𝑥 + 𝑏𝑏2𝑦𝑦 + 𝑐𝑐2 = 0
 2. Types of Pairs of Linear Equations
Parallel Lines Intersecting Lines Coinciding Lines

𝑎𝑎1 𝑏𝑏1 𝑐𝑐1 𝑎𝑎1 𝑏𝑏1 𝑎𝑎1 𝑏𝑏1 𝑐𝑐1

= ≠ ≠ = =
𝑎𝑎2 𝑏𝑏2 𝑐𝑐2 𝑎𝑎2 𝑏𝑏2 𝑎𝑎2 𝑏𝑏2 𝑐𝑐2

Inconsistent equations Consistent equations

No solution At least one solution

3. Methods of Solving Pairs of

Linear Equations
Methods of Solving

Graphical Method Algebraic Methods

Substitution Method Elimination Method Cross-Multiplication Method

 3.1 Graphical Method
2𝑥𝑥 − 1𝑦𝑦 = −1 , 3𝑥𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑦 = 9

Find points to construct lines on a graph paper for the two given equations

To construct a line, we need at least two point of the line, we find the value
substituting values of x and y in the two equations.
2𝑥𝑥 − 1𝑦𝑦 = −1 3𝑥𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑦 = 9
1 𝒙𝒙 0 3 1
𝒙𝒙 0 − 1
2 9
1 0 3 𝒚𝒚 0 3
𝒚𝒚 2

Draw the two line on a graph and mark the points at which they intersect.
y

(1, 3) The x-coordinate and the y-coordinate

of the point at which the two lines
intersect is the solution(s) of the pair of
equations.
x” x

y”
 3.2 Substitution Method
𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 = 4 , 𝑥𝑥 − 𝑦𝑦 = 2

Take one of the equations and move 'y' to LHS and the rest to RHS
to get the value of 'y' in terms of 'x'.

𝑦𝑦 = 4 − 𝑥𝑥

Substitute the obtained value of 'y' in the other equation to get the
numerical value of 'x'.

𝑥𝑥 − 𝑦𝑦 = 2
𝑥𝑥 − 4 − 𝑥𝑥 = 2
2𝑥𝑥 − 4 = 2
𝑥𝑥 = 3

Now, substitute the obtained value of 'x' in either of the equations to

get the value of 'y'.

𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 = 4
3 + 𝑦𝑦 = 4
𝑦𝑦 = 1
 3.3 Elimination Method
3𝑥𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑦 = 18 , 5𝑥𝑥 + 4𝑦𝑦 = 32
1 2
Note down equations aligned to respective Pick the variable which will be easier to
variables as shown. eliminate.

+3𝑥𝑥 +2𝑦𝑦 = +18 +3𝑥𝑥 +2𝑦𝑦 = +18

+5𝑥𝑥 +4𝑦𝑦 = +32 +5𝑥𝑥 +4𝑦𝑦 = +32

3 4
Equalise the coefficients of the variable to
Subtract the second equation from the first
be eliminated by multiplying every term of
equation by reversing all the signs.
the equation with the same number.

+3𝑥𝑥 +2𝑦𝑦 = +18 +6𝑥𝑥 +4𝑦𝑦 =

= +36
=
×2 ×2 ×2
−5𝑥𝑥 −4𝑦𝑦 =
= −32
=
+5𝑥𝑥 +4𝑦𝑦 = +32
+𝑥𝑥 =
+0𝑦𝑦 = +4

5 6
Substitute the value of the now known Verify the values obtained for
variable into the simpler equation to get the 𝑥𝑥 and 𝑦𝑦 by putting them
value of the other variable. in the given equations
We know that,
𝑥𝑥 = 4 3𝑥𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑦 = 18,
And, 3𝑥𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑦 = 18
LHS = 3𝑥𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑦
⇒ 3 × 4 + 2𝑦𝑦 = 18
= 3 × 4 + 2 × 3
⇒ 12 + 2 = 18
= 18
= RHS
⇒ 2𝑦𝑦 = 6
⇒ 𝑦𝑦 = 3
5𝑥𝑥 + 4𝑦𝑦 = 32
From the above, x = 4 and y = 3. LHS = 5𝑥𝑥 + 4𝑦𝑦
Therefore, (4,3) is the solution of the = 5 × 4 + 4 × 3
simultaneous equations 32
= RHS
“3x + 2y = 18" and
“5x + 4y = 32".
 3.4 Cross-Multiplication Method
Write the two equations in the general form:

𝑎𝑎1 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑏𝑏1 𝑦𝑦 + 𝑐𝑐1 = 0

𝑎𝑎2 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑏𝑏2 𝑦𝑦 + 𝑐𝑐2 = 0

Now write the coefficients, variables and constants in

the pattern shown. After that multiply and subtract in the
direction of the arrows as shown:
𝑥𝑥 𝑦𝑦 1
𝑏𝑏1 𝑐𝑐1 𝑎𝑎1 𝑏𝑏1

𝑏𝑏2 𝑐𝑐2 𝑎𝑎2 𝑏𝑏2

𝑥𝑥 𝑦𝑦 1
= =
𝑏𝑏1 𝑐𝑐2 − 𝑏𝑏2 𝑐𝑐1 𝑐𝑐1 𝑎𝑎2 − 𝑐𝑐2 𝑎𝑎1 𝑎𝑎1 𝑏𝑏2 − 𝑎𝑎2 𝑏𝑏1

Get 𝑥𝑥 and 𝑦𝑦 in the LHS and substi tute the respective values to
get the answer.

𝑏𝑏1 𝑐𝑐2 − 𝑏𝑏2 𝑐𝑐1 𝑐𝑐1 𝑎𝑎2 − 𝑐𝑐2 𝑎𝑎1

𝑥𝑥 = 𝑦𝑦 =
𝑎𝑎1 𝑏𝑏2 − 𝑎𝑎2 𝑏𝑏1 𝑎𝑎1 𝑏𝑏2 − 𝑎𝑎2 𝑏𝑏1
 Solving Non-Linear Pair of Equations
Solve for x and y.

5 1 6 3
+ =2 , − =1
𝑥𝑥 − 1 𝑦𝑦 𝑥𝑥 − 1 𝑦𝑦

Identify what part can be substi tuted wi th some other

variables to make the equation linear.

𝟏𝟏 𝟏𝟏 𝟏𝟏
5× +1× =2 𝒑𝒑 =
𝒙𝒙 − 𝟏𝟏 𝒚𝒚 𝒙𝒙 − 𝟏𝟏

𝟏𝟏 𝟏𝟏 𝟏𝟏
6× −3× =1 𝒒𝒒 =
𝒙𝒙 − 𝟏𝟏 𝒚𝒚 𝒚𝒚

Solve the obtained pair of linear

Now solve for x and y.
equations using any method

1 1 1
5𝒑𝒑 + 𝒒𝒒 = 2 𝒑𝒑 = 𝑥𝑥 = + 1 𝑦𝑦 =
3 𝒑𝒑 𝒒𝒒
1 4
6𝒑𝒑 − 3𝒒𝒒 = 1 𝒒𝒒 = 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑦𝑦 = 3
3 3
 Mind Map

Parallel Lines

Intersecting lines
Types of Linear equations

Coincident lines

Pair of Linear
equations in two Solving the Pairs of
variables Non-Linear
Equations

Solving the Pairs of

Linear Equations
Reducing the Equations
into Linear Form
Elimination method

Cross-multiplication
Graphical method method
Substitution
Method