Study Notes: Linear Equations and Word Problems

By Gaurav Mohanty|Updated : September 9th, 2021

What is a linear equation? 

Any equation of the first degree is known as a linear equation.

Linear equation in one variable - It is an equation of the form ax + b = 0, a≠ 0, where a and b are constants and x is a variable.

POINTS TO NOTE

The solution of a linear equation is not affected when

1)the same number is either added or subtracted from both sides of the equation.

2) the same non-zero number is multiplied or divided on both sides of the equation.

Linear Equation in Two Variables

It is an equation of the form ax + by + c = 0, where a and b are real numbers, a ¹ 0, b ¹ 0 and c are constants (real numbers) and x, y are variables. Let us look at the following linear equation in 2 variables

 1) x + 2y = 3,   

Here x + 2y = 3 can be written as 

 x + 2y - 3 = 0. Here it is in the form ax + by + c = 0 where a =1, b =2 and c = -3

 
2) 2x - 3y - 5 = 0

It is in the form ax + by + c = 0 where a =2, b =-3 and c = -5


3)  5x+7y = 4,

Here 5x + 7y = 4 can be written as

5 x + 7y - 4 = 0

It is in the form ax + by + c = 0 where a =5, b =7and c = -4


Solution 
A pair of values of x and y satisfying the equation ax + by + c = 0 is known as the solution of the equation.

Example : x = 1, y = 2 is a solution of x + 3y = 7.

Solution of a Linear Equation

We observed that every linear equation in one variable has a unique solution. The solution of a linear equation in two variables is a pair of values (x, y) which satisfy the given equation. Consider an equation 2x + 5y = 17. Here, x = 1 and y = 3 is a solution as when we substitute x = 1 and y = 3 in the equation, we get2x + 5y = 2´1 + 5´ 3 = 2 + 15 = 17

Thus the solution is (1, 3). Similarly (6, 1) is also a solution for the above equation. Try the pair (0, 3). L.H.S = 2´0 + 5´3 = 0 + 15 = 15, which is not 17. Hence (0, 3) is not a solution to the above equation. But this doesn’t mean that there are no more solutions. We can get many solutions in the following way: 

 

Example :


1) Find four solutions of the equation x + 3y = 7

Let us choose x = 1 then 3y =6 and hence y =2

Therefore x = 1 and y =2 is a solution of the equation x + 3y = 7

If we take x =4 then 3y =3 or y =1

Therefore x = 4 and y =1 is a solution of the equation x + 3y = 7

If we assume x =0 then y = 7/3,is a solution of the equation x + 3y = 7

If we assume y = 0 then x = 7, is a solution of the equation x + 3y = 7

(1, 2), (4, 1), (0,7/3 ), (0 ,7) are the four solutions of the infinitely many solutions.

Summary

  • An equation is an equality involving one or more unknown quantities known as variables.
  • The general form of linear equations in two variable is ax + by + c = 0.
  • Solution means a pair of values, one for and other for y; where the values substituted in the given equation makes the two sides of the equation equal.
  • A linear equation in two variables has infinitely many solutions.
  • The geometrical representation of ax + by + c = 0 is a straight line.
  • x= 0 is the equation of the – axis.
  • y= 0 is the equation of the x - axis.
  • In a graph x = k is a straight line parallel to the – axis.
  • In a graph y k is a straight line parallel to the x – axis.
  • The type of equation y = mx represents a line passing through the origin.

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