10.5 Linear Systems in Two Variables

A $2 times 2$ system of equations is a set of $2$ equations in the same $2$ variables. A solution of a $2 times 2$ system is an ordered pair that makes each equation in the system true. In this section, we review two algebraic methods for solving $2 times 2$ linear systems: substitution and elimination.

Solving Systems by Substitution

The basic strategy for the substitution method can be described as follows.

Example 1

Staci stocks two kinds of sleeping bags in her sporting goods store, a standard model and a down-filled model for colder temperatures. From past experience, she estimates that she will sell twice as many of the standard variety as of the down filled. She has room to stock 60 sleeping bags at a time. How many of each variety should Staci order?

$Number of standard sleeping bags: x; Number of down-filled sleeping bags: y$
Write two equations about the variables. Staci needs twice as many standard model as down filled, so
$x, equals 2 y, open parenthesis 1 close parenthesis$
Also, the total number of sleeping bags is 60, so
$\begin{aligned} x + y & = 60 & (2) \end{aligned}$
We will solve this system using substitution. Notice that Equation (1) is already solved for $x$ in terms of $y$ : $x equals 2 y$ . Substitute $2 y$ for $x$ in Equation (2) to obtain
$\begin{aligned} 2 y + y & = 60 \\ 3 y & = 60 \end{aligned}$
Solving for $y$ , we find $y equals 20$ . Finally, substitute this value into Equation (1) to find
$x = 2 (20) = 40$
The solution to the system is $x = 40, y = 20$ .
Staci should order $40$ standard sleeping bags and $20$ down-filled bags.

Solving Systems by Elimination

The method of substitution is convenient if one of the variables in the system has a coefficient of $1$ or $minus 1$ , because it is easy to solve for that variable. If none of the coefficients is $1$ or $minus 1$ , then a second method, called elimination, is usually more efficient.

The method of elimination is based on the following properties of linear equations.

Note

Properties of Linear Systems

Multiplying a linear equation by a (nonzero) constant does not change its solutions. That is, any solution of the equation
$a x + b y = c$
is also a solution of the equation
$k a x + k b y = k c$
Adding (or subtracting) two linear equations does not change their common solutions. That is, any solution of the system
$\begin{aligned} a_{1} x + b_{1} y & = c_{1} \\ a_{2} x + b_{2} y & = c_{2} \end{aligned}$
is also a solution of the equation
$(a_{1} + a_{2}) x + (b_{1} + b_{2}) y = c_{1} + c_{2}$

Example 2

Solve the system by the method of elimination.

$\begin{aligned} 2 x & + & 3 y & = & 8 & (1) \\ 3 x & - & 4 y & = & - 5 & (2) \end{aligned}$

We first decide which variable to eliminate, $x$ or $y$ . We can choose whichever looks easiest. In this problem, we choose to eliminate $x$ .

We next look for the smallest number that both coefficients, $2$ and $3$ , divide into evenly. This number is $6$ . We want the coefficients of $x$ to become $6$ and $minus 6$ , so we will multiply Equation (1) by $3$ and Equation (2) by $minus 2$ to obtain

$\begin{aligned} 6 x & + & 9 y & = & 24 & (1 a) \\ - 6 x & + & 8 y & = & 10 & (2 a) \end{aligned}$

Now we add the corresponding terms of (1a) and (2a). The $x$ -terms are eliminated, yielding an equation in one variable.

$\begin{aligned} 6 x & + & 9 y & = & 24 & (1 a) \\ - 6 x & + & 8 y & = & 10 & (2 a) \\ 17 y & = & 34 & (3) \end{aligned}$

We solve this equation for $y$ to find $y equals 2$ . We can substitute this value of $y$ into any of our equations involving both $x$ and $y$ . If we choose Equation (1), then

$2 x + 3 (2) = 8$

and solving this equation yields $x equals 1$ . The ordered pair $open parenthesis 1, 2 close parenthesis$ is a solution to the system. You should verify that these values satisfy both original equations.

We summarize the strategy for solving a linear system by elimination.

In Example 2, we added $3$ times the first equation to $minus 2$ times the second equation. The result from adding a constant multiple of one equation to a constant multiple of another equation is called a linear combination of the two equations. The method of elimination is also called the method of linear combinations.

If either equation in a system has fractional coefficients, it is helpful to clear the fractions before applying the method of linear combinations.

Example 3

Solve the system by linear combinations.

$\begin{aligned} \frac{2}{3} x & - & y & = & 2 & (1) \\ x & + & \frac{1}{2} y & = & 7 & (2) \end{aligned}$

Multiply each side of Equation (1) by $3$ and each side of Equation (2) by $2$ to clear the fractions:

$\begin{aligned} 2 x & - & 3 y & = & 6 & (1 a) \\ 2 x & + & y & = & 14 & (2 a) \end{aligned}$

To eliminate the variable $x$ , multiply Equation (2a) by $minus 1$ and add the result to Equation (1a) to get

$\begin{aligned} - 4 y & = - 8 & Divide both sides by -4. \\ y & = 2 \end{aligned}$

Substitute $2$ for $y$ in one of the original equations and solve for $x$ . We use Equation (2).

$\begin{aligned} x + \frac{1}{2} (2) & = 7 & Subtract 1 from both sides. \\ x & = 6 \end{aligned}$

Verify that $x equals 6$ and $y equals 2$ satisfy both Equations (1) and (2). The solution to the system is the ordered pair $open parenthesis 6, 2 close parenthesis$ .

Section Summary

Vocabulary

Look up the definitions of new terms in the Glossary.

System of equations
Dependent
Linear combination
Inconsistent
Elimination
Solution of a system
Substitution

SKILLS

Practice each skill in the exercises listed.

Solve a system by substitution: #1–4
Solve a system by elimination: #5–8
Choose a method and solve the system: #9–18, 29–32
Solve problems by writing and solving a system: #19–28

Exercises A.5

For Problems 1-4, solve the system by substitution.

$\begin{aligned} a & + & 2 b & = - 6 \\ 2 a & - & 3 b & = 16 \end{aligned}$

$open parenthesis 2, minus 4 close parenthesis$
$\begin{aligned} 7 r & - & 4 s & = 1 \\ 3 r & + & s & = 14 \end{aligned}$
$\begin{aligned} 2 x & - & 3 y & = 6 \\ x & + & 3 y & = 3 \end{aligned}$

$open parenthesis 3, 0 close parenthesis$
$\begin{aligned} 2 r & = s + 7 \\ 2 s & = 14 - 3 r \end{aligned}$

For Problems 5-8, solve the system by elimination.

$\begin{aligned} 5 x & - & 2 y & = - 4 \\ - 6 x & + & 3 y & = 5 \end{aligned}$

$(\frac{- 2}{3}, \frac{1}{3})$
$\begin{aligned} 2 p & + & 3 q & = 38 \\ 6 p & - & 5 q & = 2 \end{aligned}$
$\begin{aligned} 3 x & - & 4 y & = - 11 \\ 2 x & + & 6 y & = - 3 \end{aligned}$

$(- 3, \frac{1}{2})$
$\begin{aligned} 2 u & - & 3 v & = - 4 \\ 5 u & + & 2 v & = 9 \end{aligned}$

For Problems 9–12, solve the system by substitution or by linear combinations.

$\begin{aligned} 3 m & + n = 7 \\ 2 m & = 5 n - 1 \end{aligned}$

$open parenthesis 2, 1 close parenthesis$
$\begin{aligned} 3 x & + & 5 y & = 1 \\ 2 x & - & 3 y & = 7 \end{aligned}$
$\begin{aligned} 3 y & = 2 x - 8 \\ 4 y & + 11 = 3 x \end{aligned}$

$open parenthesis 1, minus 2 close parenthesis$
$\begin{aligned} 4 L - 3 & = 3 W \\ 25 + 5 L & = - 2 W \end{aligned}$

In Problems 13–18, clear the fractions in each equation first, then solve the system by substitution or by linear combinations.

$\begin{aligned} \frac{2}{3} A & - & B & = 4 \\ A & - & \frac{3}{4} B & = 6 \end{aligned}$

$open parenthesis 6, 0 close parenthesis$
$\begin{aligned} \frac{1}{8} w & - & \frac{3}{8} z & = 1 \\ \frac{1}{2} w & - & \frac{1}{4} z & = - 1 \end{aligned}$
$\begin{aligned} \frac{M}{4} & = \frac{N}{3} - \frac{5}{12} \\ \frac{N}{5} & = \frac{1}{2} - \frac{M}{10} \end{aligned}$

$open parenthesis 1, 2 close parenthesis$
$\begin{aligned} \frac{R}{3} & = \frac{S}{3} + 2 \\ \frac{S}{3} & = \frac{R}{6} - 1 \end{aligned}$
$\begin{aligned} \frac{s}{2} & = \frac{7}{6} - \frac{t}{3} \\ \frac{s}{4} & = \frac{3}{4} - \frac{t}{4} \end{aligned}$

$open parenthesis 1, 2 close parenthesis$
$\begin{aligned} \frac{2 p}{3} & + \frac{8 q}{9} = \frac{4}{3} \\ \frac{p}{3} & = 2 + \frac{q}{2} \end{aligned}$

In Problems 19–28, write a system of equations for the problem, then solve algebraically.

Francine has $2000, part of it invested in bonds paying 10%, and the rest in a certificate account at 8%. Her annual income from the two investments is $184. How much did Francine invest at each rate?
1. Choose variables for the unknown quantities, and fill in the table.
  Principal Interest rate Interest
  Bonds
  Certificate
  Total ——
2. Write one equation about the amount Francine invested.
3. Write a second equation about Francine's annual interest.
4. Solve the system and answer the question in the problem.
1. Principal Interest rate Interest
  Bonds $x$ $0.10$ $0.10 x$
  Certificate $y$ $0.08$ $0.08 y$
  Total $x + y$ —— $0.10 x plus 0.08 y$
2. $x + y = 2000$
3. $0.10 x + 0.08 y = 184$
4. $800 at 8%, $1200 at 10%
Carmella has $1200 invested in two stocks; one returns 8% per year, and the other returns 12% per year. The income from the 8% stock is $3 more than the income from the 12% stock. How much did Carmella invest in each stock?
1. Choose variables for the unknown quantities, and fill in the table.
  Principal Interest rate Interest
  First stock
  Second stock
  Total —— ——
2. Write one equation about the amount Carmella invested.
3. Write a second equation about Carmella's annual interest.
4. Solve the system and answer the question in the problem.
Paul needs 40 pounds of 48% silver alloy to finish a collection of jewelry. How many pounds of 45% silver alloy should he melt with 60% silver alloy to obtain the alloy he needs?
1. Choose variables for the unknown quantities, and fill in the table.
  Pounds % silver Amount of silver
  First alloy
  Second alloy
  Mixture
2. Write one equation about the amount of alloy Paul needs.
3. Write a second equation about the amount of silver in the alloys.
4. Solve the system and answer the question in the problem.
1. Pounds % silver Amount of silver
  First alloy $x$ $0.45$ $0.45 x$
  Second alloy $y$ $0.60$ $0.60 y$
  Mixture $40$ $0.48$ $0.48 open parenthesis 40 close parenthesis$
2. $x + y = 40$
3. $0.45 x + 0.60 y = 19.2$
4. 32 lb
Amal plans to make 10 liters of a 17% acid solution by mixing a 20% acid solution with a 15% acid solution. How much of each should she use?
1. Choose variables for the unknown quantities, and fill in the table.
  Liters % acid Amount of acid
  First solution
  Second solution
  Mixture
2. Write one equation about the amount of solution Amal needs.
3. Write a second equation about the acid in the solution.
4. Solve the system and answer the question in the problem.
Delbert answered 13 true-false and 9 fill-in questions correctly on his last test and got a score of 71. If he had answered 9 true-false and 13 fill-ins correctly, he would have made an 83. How many points was each type of problem worth?

True-false: 2 points; fill-ins: 5 points
In a recent election, 7179 votes were cast for the two candidates. If 6 votes had been switched from the winner to the loser, the loser would have won by 1 vote. How many votes were cast for each candidate?
Because of prevailing winds, a flight from Detroit to Denver, a distance of 1120 miles, takes 4 hours on Econoflite, while the return trip takes 3.5 hours. What were the speed of the airplane and the speed of the wind?
1. Choose variables for the unknown quantities, and fill in the table.
  Rate Time Distance
  Detroit to Denver
  Denver to Detroit
2. Write one equation about the trip from Detroit to Denver.
3. Write a second equation about the return trip.
4. Solve the system and answer the question in the problem.
1. Rate Time Distance
  Detroit to Denver $x + y$ $4$ $1120$
  Denver to Detroit $x + y$ $3.5$ $1120$
2. $4 (x - y) = 1120$
3. $3.5 (x + y) = 1120$
4. Airplane: 300 mph; wind: 20 mph
On a breezy day, Bonnie propelled her human-powered aircraft 100 meters in 15 seconds going into the wind and made the return trip in 10 seconds with the wind. What were the speed of the wind and Bonnie's speed in still air?
1. Choose variables for the unknown quantities, and fill in the table.
  Rate Time Distance
  Against the wind
  With the wind
2. Write one equation about Bonnie's initial flight.
3. Write a second equation about Bonnie's return trip.
4. Solve the system and answer the question in the problem.
A cup of rolled oats provides 310 calories. A cup of rolled wheat flakes provides 290 calories. A new breakfast cereal combines wheat and oats to provide 302 calories per cup. How much of each grain does 1 cup of the cereal include?
1. Choose variables for the unknown quantities, and fill in the table.
  Cups Calories per cup Calories
  Oat flakes
  Wheat flakes
  Mixture ——
2. Write one equation about the amounts of each grain.
3. Write a second equation about the number of calories.
4. Solve the system and answer the question in the problem.
1. Cups Calories per cup Calories
  Oat flakes $x$ $310$ $310 x$
  Wheat flakes $y$ $290$ $290 y$
  Mixture $x + y$ —— $310 x plus 290 y$
2. $x + y = 1$
3. $310 x + 290 y = 302$
4. 0.6 cup oats, 0.4 cup wheat
Acme Motor Company is opening a new plant to produce chassis for two of its models, a sports coupe and a wagon. Each sports coupe requires a riveter for 3 hours and a welder for 4 hours; each wagon requires a riveter for 4 hours and a welder for 5 hours. The plant has available 120 hours of riveting and 155 hours of welding per day. How many of each model of chassis can it produce in a day?
1. Choose variables for the unknown quantities, and fill in the table.
  Sports coupes Wagons Total
  Hours of riveting
  Hours of welding
2. Write one equation about the hours of riveting.
3. Write a second equation about the hours of welding.
4. Solve the system and answer the question in the problem.

	Principal	Interest rate	Interest
Bonds	$x$	$0.10$	$0.10 x$
Certificate	$y$	$0.08$	$0.08 y$
Total	$x + y$	——	$0.10 x plus 0.08 y$

	Pounds	% silver	Amount of silver
First alloy	$x$	$0.45$	$0.45 x$
Second alloy	$y$	$0.60$	$0.60 y$
Mixture	$40$	$0.48$	$0.48 open parenthesis 40 close parenthesis$

	Rate	Time	Distance
Detroit to Denver	$x + y$	$4$	$1120$
Denver to Detroit	$x + y$	$3.5$	$1120$

	Cups	Calories per cup	Calories
Oat flakes	$x$	$310$	$310 x$
Wheat flakes	$y$	$290$	$290 y$
Mixture	$x + y$	——	$310 x plus 290 y$

For Problems 19-28, use a calculator to solve the system.

$\begin{aligned} 4.8 x & - & 3.5 y & = 5.44 \\ 2.7 x & + & 1.3 y & = 8.29 \end{aligned}$

$open parenthesis 2.3, 1.6 close parenthesis$
$\begin{aligned} 6.4 x & + & 2.3 y & = - 14.09 \\ - 5.2 x & - & 3.7 y & = - 25.37 \end{aligned}$
$\begin{aligned} 0.9 x = 25.78 & + 1.03 y \\ 0.25 x + 0.3 y & = 85.7 \end{aligned}$

$open parenthesis 182, 134 close parenthesis$
$\begin{aligned} 0.02 x & = 0.6 y - 78.72 \\ 1.1 y & = - 0.4 x + 108.3 \end{aligned}$

Modeling, Functions, and Graphs by Katherine Yoshiwara (yoshiwarabooks.org), GNU Free Documentation License 1.2 or later. Adapted for the XYZ HTML edition with the authors' permission (recorded 2026-07-04). License: GFDL-1.2-or-later.

	Sports coupes	Wagons	Total
Hours of riveting
Hours of welding