GRAPHICAL METHOD OF

SOLVING A PAIR OF
LINEAR EQUATIONS
• The general form of a linear equation in one
variable is ax + b =0, a not equal to 0, a & b are
real numbers.
• The general form of a linear equation in two
variables is ax + by + c=0, a & b not equal to 0, a &
b & c are real numbers.
• The general form of a pair of linear equations in
two variables is a1x + b1 y + c1 =0
a2x + b2 y + c2 =0

where, a1,a2,b1,b2,c1 & c2 are real numbers and

a12 + b12  0, a22 + b22  0.
 Graph of a pair of linear equations in
two variables
a1x + b1 y + c1 =0
a2x + b2 y + c2 =0 } be the pair of linear equations in
two variables
i. Take the first equation a1x + b1 y + c1 =0.
ii. Write y in terms of x i.e. y = _ a1x + c1
b1
• Take any value (α1 ) of x and find out the corresponding value (β1 )
of y .So, (α1 , β1 ) are the coordinates of a point on the line .
Similarly find two more points (α2 , β2 ) , (α3 , β3 ) .
• Plot the corresponding points on the graph paper.
• Join the point. Similarly plot the points of the second equation.
• The graph of a linear equation in two variables is
a straight line.
• A pair of linear equations represents two lines
geometrically.
• If both lines are in a plane only one of the
following is possible.
• 1.the lines intersect at a point.
2.the two lines may be parallel.
3.the two lines may be coincident.
 Possibilities of formations of two lines

Intersecting lines Parallel lines

Coincident lines
 Graphical representation of a pair of
linear equations in two variables.
a1x + b1 y + c1 =0
a2x + b2 y + c2 =0
 represent two straight lines

• Every linear equation in two variable has

infinitely many solutions.
• If the pair of linear equations in two variables
has one and only one common solution then
the graphical representation of two lines
intersect at a point.
If the pair of linear equations in two
variables has infinitely many common
solutions then the lines must coincide with
each other.

If the pair of linear equations in two

variables has no common solution then the
lines are parallel.
• The behavior of lines representing a pair of
linear equations in two variables and the
existence of solution is as follows.
– the lines may intersect at a single point, in this case
the pair of linear equations has unique common
solution then the pair is called consistent.
– the lines may be parallel, in this case the pair of
linear equations has no common solution then the
pair is called inconsistent.
– the lines may be coincident, in this case the pair of
linear equations has infinitely many solutions then
the pair is called consistent.
• If the pair of linear equations in two
variables be a1x + b1 y + c1 =0
• a2x + b2 y + c2 =0
then the relationship between a1 b1 c1
a2 , b 2 , c2
is as follows:
S. No. Nature of the Nature of the graphical Nature of the Consistent
solution . representation of linear ratios. /Inconsistent.
equations in two
variables.

1. One solution Lines intersect a1 b 1 Consistent

at a point
a2 b 2

2. Infinitely Coincide with a1 b 1 c 1 Consistent

many one another
solutions a2 b 2 c 2

3. No Inconsistent
parallel a1 b 1 c 1
solution
a2 b 2 c 2
Example problems
1
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
1 2 3 4

How many common solutions does the graphical

representation have?
• ANSWER : No common solution
EXAMPLE PROBLEM
Check whether x=2 ,y=3 is the solution
of the system of linear equations in
two variables
2x + y = 7
3x + 2y = 12
Answer :
the given pair of equations are 2x + y = 7 _(1)
3x + 2y = 12_(2)
putting x=2 and y=3 in (1), we get
L.H.S. =2 x 2 + 1 x3 = 4+3 = 7 = R.H.S.
putting x=2 and y=3 in (2), we get
L.H.S. = 3 x 2 + 2 x 3 = 6+6 = 12 = R.H.S.
Thus, values x=2, y=3 satisfy both the equations (1),
(2) .
Hence, x=2, y=3 is a solution of the given equations.