Name______________________________________________

Chapter 7 Systems of Equations and

Inequalities
Section 7.1 Linear and Nonlinear Systems of Equations

Objective: In this lesson you learned how to solve systems of equations

by substitution and by graphing and how to use systems of
equations to model and solve real-life problems.

Important Vocabulary Define each term or concept.

System of equations A model used for solving a problem that involves two or more
equations in two or more variables.
Solution of a system of equations (in two variables) An ordered pair that satisfies
each equation in the system.
Solving a system of equations The process of finding the set of all solutions of a
system.
Method of substitution A method for solving systems of equations which involves
substituting for one of the variables in one equation in the system an expression that
represents that variable in terms of the other variable.
Graphical method A method for finding the solution(s) to a system of equations in
which the solutions are determined by finding points of intersection of the graphs of
the equations.
Points of intersection The points, which correspond to the solutions of the system,
where the graphs of the equations in a system of equations intersect.
Break-even point The point reached by sales when enough units of a product have
been sold so that the total revenue R equals the total cost C.

I. The Method of Substitution (Pages 496−498) What you should learn

How to use the method of
To check that the ordered pair (− 3, 4) is the solution of a system substitution to solve
of equations, . . . substitute − 3 for x and 4 for y in each systems of linear
equations in two
equation of the system. variables

List the steps necessary for solving a system of equations using

the method of substitution.

1. Solve one of the equations for one variable in terms of the

other.
2. Substitute the expression found in Step 1 into the other
equation to obtain an equation in one variable.
3. Solve the equation obtained in Step 2.
4. Back-substitute the value obtained in Step 3 into the
expression obtained in Step 1 to find the value of the other
variable.
5. Check that the solution satisfies each of the original
equations.

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124 Chapter 7 • Systems of Equations and Inequalities

Explain what is meant by back-substitution.

The term back-substitution implies that you work backwards.

First, you solve for one of the variables, and then you substitute
that value back into one of the equations in the system to find the
value of the other variable.

Example 1: Solve the system of equations using the method of

substitution.
⎧2 x + y = 2
⎨
⎩ x − 2 y = −9

The solution is (− 1, 4).

II. Nonlinear Systems of Equations (Page 499) What you should learn
How to use the method of
To solve a system of equations in which one or both of the substitution to solve
equations are nonlinear, the method of substitution can systems of nonlinear
equations in two
also be used. variables

III. Graphical Approach to Finding Solutions (Page 500) What you should learn
How to use a graphical
When solving a system of two equations in two unknowns, what approach to solve
numbers of solutions to the system are possible? systems of equations in
two or more variables
There can be exactly one solution, more than one solution, or no
solution.

By using a graphical method, you can gain insight about the

number of solutions and the locations of the solutions of a
system of equations by graphing each of the
equations in the same coordinate plane . The
solutions of the system correspond to the points of
intersection of the graphs .

To solve a system of equations graphically, . . . sketch the

graphs of the two equations. From the graph, find the point of
intersection. Confirm the solution by substituting its coordinates
for x and y in both of the original equations of the system.

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 Section 7.1 • Linear and Nonlinear Systems of Equations 125
Name______________________________________________
To use a graphing utility to solve a system of equations
graphically, . . . enter the equations of the system into the
graphing utility and graph them on the same viewing window.
Then visually locate a point of intersection before using the
utility’s intersect feature to find the coordinates of the point of
intersection.

Example 2: Solve the system of equations graphically.

⎧⎪ x 2 − y = 5
⎨
⎪⎩− x + y = −3

The solutions are (− 1, −4) and (2, − 1).

IV. Applications of Systems of Equations (Pages 501−502) What you should learn
How to use systems of
The total cost C of producing x units of a product typically has equations to model and
two components: the initial cost and the cost per unit . solve real-life problems

In break-even analysis, the break-even point corresponds to the

point of intersection of the cost and revenue
curves.

Break-even analysis can also be approached from the point of

view of profit. In this case, consider the profit function, which is
P=R−C . The break-even point occurs when profit
equals 0 , which is the same as saying that
R=C .

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126 Chapter 7 • Systems of Equations and Inequalities

Example 3: The cost of producing x units is C = 1.5x + 15,000

and the revenue obtained by selling x units is
R = 5x. How many items should be sold to break
even?

4286 units

y y y

x x x

Homework Assignment

Page(s)

Exercises

Larson/Hostetler Precalculus/Precalculus with Limits Notetaking Guide IAE

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