Linear Equations 2Variables

Any equation of the first degree having two variables such as x and y is called a linear equation with two variables.

Let's write down a linear equation with two variables.

Suppose the cost of two books is $10.

If the cost of the first book is x and the cost of the second book is y, then the equation is x + y = 10, where x and y are variables.

Let's find the solution set for linear equations

Example 1

x + y = 10

If the cost of one book is $1, then cost of other book will be $9 or,

If the cost of the first book is $2, then the cost of the second book will be $8 and so on.

The values that satisfy the equation, i.e., make the equation true, are called solutions or roots of the equation.

The values that make the equation x + y = 10 true are

x = 1 y = 9

x = 2 y = 8

x = 3 y = 7

x = 4 y = 6

x = 5 y = 5 etc.

Therefore, the solution set is

{(1, 9) (2, 8) (3, 7) (4, 6) (5, 5) (6, 4) (7, 3) (8, 2) (9, 1)}


Example 2

In this example, let's assume that x and y are integers.

As you know, a set of all integers is represented by

Z = {… … … -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4 … … …}

Therefore, in the equation, x + y = 0 and x, y are integers.

The solution set = {(1, -1) (2, -2) (3, -3) ad infinitum}

The solution for this equation is infinite; therefore, the solution set is an infinite set.

Example 3

If x = 2 and y = 4, determine whether this satisfies the equation

x + y = 5.

By substituting the values of x and y in the equation

x + y = 5

2 + 4 = 6, which is not equal to 5.

The values x = 2, y = 4 do not satisfy the equation; therefore, the set (2, 4) is not a solution set.

Try these questions

Verity whether the values of x and y given against each of the following satisfy the given equation.

  1. 2x - y = 3 and x = 4, y = 1
    Answer:  Substituting x, y values in the given equation.
    2 (4) - 1 = 8 - 1 = 7
    Hence (4, 1) is not a solution set.

  2. x + y = 9 and x = 3, y = 6
    Answer:  3 + 6 = 9 = 9
    Hence (3, 6) is a solution set.

  3. 2x + y = 9 and x = 2, y = 2
    Answer: 2 (2) + 2 = 4 + 2 = 6 which is not equal to 9.
    Hence (2,2) is not a solution set.

  4. x + y = 10 and x = 6, y = 7
    Answer: 6 + 7 = 13 which is not equal to 10.
    Hence (6,7) is not a solution set.

  5. x + 3y = 6 and x = 1, y = 0
    Answer: 1 + 3 (0) = 1 which is not equal to 6.
    Hence (1,0) is not a solution set.

  6. x + y = 7    (x, y) = (4,3)
    Answer: 4 + 3 = 7
    Hence (4,3) is a solution set.

  7. 2x + 3y = 5    (x, y) = (1,1)
    Answer: 2 (1) + 3 (1) = 2 + 3 = 5
    Hence (1,1) is a solution set.

  8. 2x - y = 7   (x, y) = (1,2)
    Answer: 2(1) - 2 = 0 which is not equal to 7.
    Hence (1,2) is not a solution set.