PAIR OF LINEAR EQUATIONS IN TWO VARIABLES
MAIN CONCEPTS AND RESULTS
** Two linear equations in the same two variables are called a pair of linear equations in two variables.
**The most general form of a pair of linear equations is a1x + b1y + c1 = 0, a2x + b2y + c2 = 0
where a1, a2, b1, b2, c1, c2 are real numbers, such that a12 b12 0, a 22 b22 0 .
** A pair of linear equations is consistent if it has a solution – either a unique or infinitely many.
In case of infinitely many solutions, the pair of linear equations is also said to be dependent. Thus, in this
case, the pair of linear equations is dependent and consistent.
**A pair of linear equations is inconsistent, if it has no solution.
** A pair of linear equations in two variables can be represented, and solved, by the:
(i) graphical method (ii) algebraic method
** Graphical Method : The graph of a pair of linear equations in two variables is represented by two lines.
(i) If the lines intersect at a point, then that point gives the unique solution of the two equations. In this
case, the pair of equations is consistent.
(ii) If the lines coincide, then there are infinitely many solutions- each point on the line being a solution. In
this case, the pair of equations is dependent (consistent).
(iii) If the lines are parallel, then the pair of equations has no solution. In this case, the pair of equations is
inconsistent.
** Algebraic Methods : We have discussed the following methods for finding the solution(s) of a pair of
linear equations :
(i) Substitution Method (ii) Elimination Method (iii) Cross-multiplication Method
** Let a pair of linear equations is given by a1x + b1y + c1 = 0 and a2x + b2y + c2 = 0,
a1 b1
(i) the pair of linear equations is consistent and the graph will be a pair of lines intersecting at a
a 2 b2
unique point, which is the solution of the pair of equations.
a1 b1 c1
(ii) the pair of linear equations is inconsistent and the graph will be a pair of parallel lines
a 2 b2 c2
and so the pair of equations will have no solution.
a1 b1 c1
(iii) the pair of linear equations is dependent and consistent and the graph will be a pair of
a 2 b 2 c2
coincident lines. Each point on the lines will be a solution, and so the pair of equations will have
infinitely many solutions.
QUESTIONS FROM NCERT BOOKS
a1 b1 c
1. On comparing the ratios , and 1 , find out whether the lines representing the following pairs of
a 2 b2 c2
linear equations intersect at a point, are parallel or coincident:
(i) 5x – 4y + 8 = 0 , 7x + 6y – 9 = 0
(ii) 9x + 3y + 12 = 0, 18x + 6y + 24 = 0
(iii) 6x – 3y + 10 = 0, 2x – y + 9 = 0
a1 b1 c
2. On comparing the ratios , and 1 , find out whether the following pair of linear equations are
a 2 b2 c2
consistent, or inconsistent.
(i) 5x – 3y = 11 ; – 10x + 6y = –22
(ii) 2x – 3y = 8 ; 4x – 6y = 9
3 5
(iii) x y7 ; 9x – 10y = 14
2 3
3. Solve the following pair of linear equations by the substitution method :
(i) 3x – y = 3, 9x – 3y = 9
(ii) 0.2x + 0.3y = 1.3, 0.4x + 0.5y = 2.3
(iii) 2 x+ 3 y= 0, 3 x− 8 y=0
4. Solve the following pair of linear equations by the elimination method and the substitution method :
(i) 3x + 4y = 10 and 2x – 2y = 2
(ii) 3x – 5y – 4 = 0 and 9x = 2y + 7
x 2y y
(iii) 1 and x 3
2 3 3
5. Half the perimeter of a rectangular garden, whose length is 4 m more than its width, is 36 m. Find the
dimensions of the garden.
6. The difference between two numbers is 26 and one number is three times the other. Find them.
7. The larger of two supplementary angles exceeds the smaller by 18 degrees. Find them.
8. The coach of a cricket team buys 7 bats and 6 balls for Rs 3800. Later, she buys 3 bats and 5 balls for
₹ 1750. Find the cost of each bat and each ball.
9. The taxi charges in a city consist of a fixed charge together with the charge for the distance covered. For a
distance of 10 km, the charge paid is ₹ 105 and for a journey of 15 km, the charge paid is ₹ 155. What
are the fixed charges and the charge per km? How much does a person have to pay for travelling a distance
of 25 km?
9
10. A fraction becomes , if 2 is added to both the numerator and the denominator. If, 3 is added to both
11
5
the numerator and the denominator it becomes . Find the fraction.
6
11. Five years hence, the age of Jacob will be three times that of his son. Five years ago, Jacob’s age was
seven times that of his son. What are their present ages?
12. The sum of the digits of a two-digit number is 9. Also, nine times this number is twice the number
obtained by reversing the order of the digits. Find the number.
13. Meena went to a bank to withdraw ₹ 2000. She asked the cashier to give her ₹ 50 and ₹ 100
notes only. Meena got 25 notes in all. Find how many notes of ₹ 50 and ₹ 100 she received.
14. A lending library has a fixed charge for the first three days and an additional charge for each day
thereafter. Saritha paid ₹ 27 for a book kept for seven days, while Susy paid ₹ 21 for the book she kept
for five days. Find the fixed charge and the charge for each extra day.
ANSWERS
1. (i) Intersect at a point (ii) Coincident (iii) Parallel
2.(i) Consistent (ii) inconsistent (iii) Consistent
3. (i) infinitely many solutions. (ii) x = 2, y = 3 (iii) x = 0, y = 0
9 5
4. (i) x = 2, y = 1 (ii) x ,y (iii) x = 2, y = –3
13 13
5. Length = 20 m and breadth = 16 m.
6. 39, 13.
7. 99, 81.
8. cost of one bat = ₹500, cost of one ball = ₹50.
9. Fixed charge =₹5, charge per km = ₹10; travelling charge = ₹255.
7
10. Fraction =
9
11. Jacob’s age = 40 years, son’s age = 10 years.
12. 18
13. Number of Rs 50 = 10, Nnumber of Rs 100 notes = 15.
14. Fixed charge per day = ₹ 15and the additional charge per day = ₹3.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
1. Solve graphically the system of linear equations 4x – 5y + 16 = 0 and 2x + y – 6 = 0. Determine the
vertices of the triangle formed by these lines and the x-axis.
2. Solve the following system of linear equations graphically: 4x – 5y – 20 = 0 and 3x + 5y – 15 = 0.
Determine the vertices of the triangle formed by the lines representing the above equations and the y-axis.
3. Solve for x and y: 0.4x – 1.5y = 6.5, 0.3x – 0.2y = 0.9.
4. Find the values of k for which the system of equations x – 2y = 3, 3x + ky =1 has a unique solution.
5. Find the value of k for which the following pair of linear equations has infinitely many solutions:
2x – 3y = 7, (k + 1)x + (1 – 2k)y = (5k – 4) .
6. Find the value of k for which the given system of equations has infinitely many solutions:
x + (k + 1)y = 5, (k + 1)x + 9y + (1 – 8k) = 0.
7. Find the values of k for which the pair of linear equations kx + 3y = k – 2 and 12x + ky = k
has no solution.
8. Find the values of k for which the system of equations kx – y = 2, 6x – 2y = 3
has (i) a unique solution, (ii) no solution. (iii) Is there a value of k for which the given system has infinitely
many solutions?
9. The sum of the digits of a two-digit number is 12. The number obtained by interchanging its digits
exceeds the given number by 18. Find the number
10. Five years ago, A was thrice as old as B and ten years later A shall be twice as old as B. What are the
present ages of A and B?
ANSWERS
1. Vertices are (1, 4), (–4, 0) and (3, 0)
2. (0, –4), (0, 3) and (5, 0) .
3. x = 5 and y = –3.
4. All real values of k, other than –6.
5. k = 5
6. k = 2.
7. k = 6 or k = – 6.
8. (i) k ≠ 3, (ii) k =3, (iii) no real value of k
9. 57
10. A’s present age = 50 years, B’s present age = 20 years