Solution linear equation with two unknowns

Systems of linear equations: An equation of a line

Solution linear equation with two unknowns

We have just seen that a solution to a linear equation with two unknowns of the form #\blue p \cdot x + \green q\cdot y +\purple r=0# is a point #\rv{x,y}#. In general, there are multiple solutions of a linear equation, we will now see what these solutions look like. For this we will use the same rules of reduction as for a linear equation with one unknown.

We solve the equation #\blue 3 \cdot x + \green 5 \cdot y +\purple 5=0# in the following way:

\[\begin{array}{rcl}3 \cdot x + 5 \cdot y +5&=&0\\&& \blue{\small\text{the equation}}\\
5 \cdot y+5&=&-3 \cdot x\\ && \blue{\small\text{both sides minus }3 \cdot x}\\5\cdot y &=& -3 \cdot x -5 \\ && \blue{\small\text{both sides minus }5}\\ y &=& -\frac{3}{5}x-1\\ && \blue{\small\text{both times divided by }5}\end{array}\]

All points on the line #{y}=-\tfrac{3}{5} {x}-1# are solutions to the equation.

geogebra plaatje

We solve the equation #\green 5 \cdot {y}+\purple 5=0# in the following way:

\[\begin{array}{rcl}
5y + 5 &=& 0 \\
&&\blue{\small\text{the equation}} \\
5y &=& -5 \\
&&\blue{\small \text{both sides minus \(5\)}} \\
y &=& -1 \\
&&\blue{\small \text{both sides divided by \(5\)}} \\
\end{array}\]

All points on the horizontal line #{y}=-1# are solutions to the equation.

geogebra plaatje

We solve the equation #\green 3 \cdot {x}+\purple 5=0# in the following way:

\[\begin{array}{rcl}
3x + 5 &=& 0 \\
&&\blue{\small\text{the equation}} \\
3x &=& -5 \\
&&\blue{\small \text{both sides minus \(5\)}} \\
x &=& -\frac{5}{3} \\
&&\blue{\small \text{both sides minus \(3\)}} \\
\end{array}\]

All points on the vertical line #{x}=-\tfrac53# are solutions to the equation.

geogebra plaatje

Give the solutions to #-7\cdot y-3=0#.
Give your answer in the form #y=a \cdot x +b# or #x=b# for the correct values of #a# and #b#.

#y=-{{3}\over{7}}#

The equation contains only the variable #y#. Therefore, the solution is an horizontal line of the form #y= b#. We will find the solution to the equation by means of reduction:
\[\begin{array}{rcl}
-7\cdot y-3&=&0\\&& \phantom{xxx}\blue{\text{the given equation}}\\
-7\cdot y&=&3 \\ && \phantom{xxx}\blue{\text{left and right hand side plus }3}\\

y&=&\displaystyle -{{3}\over{7}}\\&& \phantom{xxx}\blue{\text{left and right hand side divided by the coefficient of }y}
\end{array}\]
Hence, the solutions to #-7\cdot y=3# are equal to the oblique line #y=-{{3}\over{7}}#.

New example