Solving Systems by Graphing and Substitution
Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Graphing 
y  x  
2 4 
1 
y   x 
 
3 
3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Solution: 3,2 
2  234 
2  2 
  
1 
2   3  
3 
3 
2  2
Graphing to Solve a Linear System 
Let's summarize! There are 4 steps to solving a linear system using a 
graph. 
Step 1: Put both equations in 
slope - intercept form. 
Step 2: Graph both equations on 
the same coordinate plane. 
Step 3: Estimate where the 
graphs intersect. 
Step 4: Check to make sure your 
solution makes both equations 
true. 
Solve both equations for y, so that 
each equation looks like 
y = mx + b. 
Use the slope and y - intercept for 
each equation in step 1. Be sure 
to use a ruler and graph paper! 
This is the solution! LABEL the 
solution! 
Substitute the x and y values into 
both equations to verify the point 
is a solution to both equations.
Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Graphing 
3 
y 
 
 
y x 
 4  
1 
 
 
 
 
Solution: 1,3 
3 3 3  411 
3 3
Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Graphing 
x y  
3 
x  y 
 
  
3 y x    
2 0 
 
 
Solution: 1,2  
3 3 
212  0 
0  0 
 
 
12  3 
2yx
CLASSIFICATION OF LINEAR SYSTEMS (p.278) 
Classification 
Consistent and 
Independent 
Consistent and 
Dependent 
Inconsistent 
Number of 
Solutions 
Exactly One Infinitely Many None 
Description Different Slopes 
Same Slope, 
Same y-intercept 
Same Slope, 
Different 
y-intercept 
Graph
Y=3x+4 
Y=-3x+2 
Y=1/2 x + 10 
Y = 1/3 x + 10 
Y = 4x + 5 
Y = 4x + 5 
Y = -3x + 1 
Y = -3x – 1 
2y = 10x + 14 
y = 5x +7 
Different slopes CONSISTENT and INDEPENDENT 
so there is 1 solution to the system 
Different slopes 
Same slope, 
Same y-intercept 
Same slope, 
Different y-intercepts 
CONSISTENT and INDEPENDENT 
so there is 1 solution to the system 
CONSISTENT and DEPENDENT 
So there are infinite solutions 
Not slope-intercept form 
Change the 1st equation to 
Y=5x+7, then Same Slope, 
Same y-intercept 
INCONSISTENT 
So there is no solution 
CONSISTENT and DEPENDENT 
So there are infinite solutions
Example 1 
x + 5y = 9 
3x – 2y = 12 
9 
x 
5 
y 
  
 
(1) 
(2) 
To solve, rewrite 
each equation in the 
form y = mx +b 
Isolating y in line (1) Isolating y in line (2) 
x + 5y = 9 
5y = -x + 9 
1 9 
5 5 
y   x  
3x – 2y = 12 
-2y = -3x + 12 
3 12 
2 
x 
y 
  
 
 
3 
y  x  
6 
2
What type of system is it? 
1 
5 
9 
5 
m 
b 
  
 
1 9 
5 5 
y   x  
3 
y  x  
6 
2 
What is the slope and 
y-intercept for line (1)? 
What is the slope and 
y-intercept for line (2)? 
3 
2 
6 
m 
b 
 
  
Since the lines have different slopes they will intersect. 
The system will have one solution and is classified as 
being consistent-independent.
Objective 
The student will be able to: 
solve systems of equations using 
substitution. 
A-REI.3.6
Solving Systems of Equations 
 You can solve a system of equations 
using different methods. The idea is to 
determine which method is easiest for 
that particular problem. 
 These notes show how to solve the 
system algebraically using 
SUBSTITUTION.
Solving a system of equations by substitution 
Step 1: Solve an equation 
for one variable. 
Step 2: Substitute 
Step 3: Solve the equation. 
Step 4: Plug back in to find 
the other variable. 
Step 5: Check your 
solution. 
Pick the easier equation. The goal 
is to get y= ; x= ; a= ; etc. 
Put the equation solved in Step 1 
into the other equation. 
Get the variable by itself. 
Substitute the value of the variable 
into the equation. 
Substitute your ordered pair into 
BOTH equations.
1) Solve the system using substitution 
x + y = 5 
y = 3 + x 
Step 1: Solve an equation 
for one variable. 
Step 2: Substitute 
The second equation is 
already solved for y! 
x + y = 5 
x + (3 + x) = 5 
Step 3: Solve the equation. 
2x + 3 = 5 
2x = 2 
x = 1
1) Solve the system using substitution 
x + y = 5 
y = 3 + x 
Step 4: Plug back in to find 
the other variable. 
x + y = 5 
(1) + y = 5 
y = 4 
Step 5: Check your 
solution. 
(1, 4) 
(1) + (4) = 5 
(4) = 3 + (1) 
The solution is (1, 4). What do you think the answer 
would be if you graphed the two equations?
Which answer checks correctly? 
3x – y = 4 
x = 4y - 17 
1. (2, 2) 
2. (5, 3) 
3. (3, 5) 
4. (3, -5)
2) Solve the system using substitution 
3y + x = 7 
4x – 2y = 0 
Step 1: Solve an equation 
for one variable. 
Step 2: Substitute 
It is easiest to solve the 
first equation for x. 
3y + x = 7 
-3y -3y 
x = -3y + 7 
4x – 2y = 0 
4(-3y + 7) – 2y = 0
2) Solve the system using substitution 
3y + x = 7 
4x – 2y = 0 
Step 4: Plug back in to find 
the other variable. 
4x – 2y = 0 
4x – 2(2) = 0 
4x – 4 = 0 
4x = 4 
x = 1 
Step 3: Solve the equation. 
-12y + 28 – 2y = 0 
-14y + 28 = 0 
-14y = -28 
y = 2
2) Solve the system using substitution 
3y + x = 7 
4x – 2y = 0 
Step 5: Check your 
solution. 
(1, 2) 
3(2) + (1) = 7 
4(1) – 2(2) = 0 
When is solving systems by substitution easier 
to do than graphing? 
When only one of the equations has a variable 
already isolated (like in example #1).
If you solved the first equation for x, what 
would be substituted into the bottom equation. 
2x + 4y = 4 
3x + 2y = 22 
1. -4y + 4 
2. -2y + 2 
3. -2x + 4 
4. -2y+ 22
3) Solve the system using substitution 
x = 3 – y 
x + y = 7 
Step 1: Solve an equation 
for one variable. 
Step 2: Substitute 
The first equation is 
already solved for x! 
x + y = 7 
(3 – y) + y = 7 
Step 3: Solve the equation. 
3 = 7 
The variables were eliminated!! 
This is a special case. 
Does 3 = 7? FALSE! 
When the result is FALSE, the answer is NO SOLUTIONS.
3) Solve the system using substitution 
2x + y = 4 
4x + 2y = 8 
Step 1: Solve an equation 
for one variable. 
Step 2: Substitute 
The first equation is 
easiest to solved for y! 
y = -2x + 4 
4x + 2y = 8 
4x + 2(-2x + 4) = 8 
Step 3: Solve the equation. 
4x – 4x + 8 = 8 
8 = 8 
This is also a special case. 
Does 8 = 8? TRUE! 
When the result is TRUE, the answer is INFINITELY MANY SOLUTIONS.

Solving Systems by Graphing and Substitution

  • 1.
    Solving Systems byGraphing and Substitution
  • 2.
    Solving Systems ofLinear Equations by Graphing y  x  2 4 1 y   x  3 3       Solution: 3,2 2  234 2  2   1 2   3  3 3 2  2
  • 3.
    Graphing to Solvea Linear System Let's summarize! There are 4 steps to solving a linear system using a graph. Step 1: Put both equations in slope - intercept form. Step 2: Graph both equations on the same coordinate plane. Step 3: Estimate where the graphs intersect. Step 4: Check to make sure your solution makes both equations true. Solve both equations for y, so that each equation looks like y = mx + b. Use the slope and y - intercept for each equation in step 1. Be sure to use a ruler and graph paper! This is the solution! LABEL the solution! Substitute the x and y values into both equations to verify the point is a solution to both equations.
  • 4.
    Solving Systems ofLinear Equations by Graphing 3 y   y x  4  1     Solution: 1,3 3 3 3  411 3 3
  • 5.
    Solving Systems ofLinear Equations by Graphing x y  3 x  y    3 y x    2 0   Solution: 1,2  3 3 212  0 0  0   12  3 2yx
  • 6.
    CLASSIFICATION OF LINEARSYSTEMS (p.278) Classification Consistent and Independent Consistent and Dependent Inconsistent Number of Solutions Exactly One Infinitely Many None Description Different Slopes Same Slope, Same y-intercept Same Slope, Different y-intercept Graph
  • 7.
    Y=3x+4 Y=-3x+2 Y=1/2x + 10 Y = 1/3 x + 10 Y = 4x + 5 Y = 4x + 5 Y = -3x + 1 Y = -3x – 1 2y = 10x + 14 y = 5x +7 Different slopes CONSISTENT and INDEPENDENT so there is 1 solution to the system Different slopes Same slope, Same y-intercept Same slope, Different y-intercepts CONSISTENT and INDEPENDENT so there is 1 solution to the system CONSISTENT and DEPENDENT So there are infinite solutions Not slope-intercept form Change the 1st equation to Y=5x+7, then Same Slope, Same y-intercept INCONSISTENT So there is no solution CONSISTENT and DEPENDENT So there are infinite solutions
  • 8.
    Example 1 x+ 5y = 9 3x – 2y = 12 9 x 5 y    (1) (2) To solve, rewrite each equation in the form y = mx +b Isolating y in line (1) Isolating y in line (2) x + 5y = 9 5y = -x + 9 1 9 5 5 y   x  3x – 2y = 12 -2y = -3x + 12 3 12 2 x y     3 y  x  6 2
  • 9.
    What type ofsystem is it? 1 5 9 5 m b    1 9 5 5 y   x  3 y  x  6 2 What is the slope and y-intercept for line (1)? What is the slope and y-intercept for line (2)? 3 2 6 m b    Since the lines have different slopes they will intersect. The system will have one solution and is classified as being consistent-independent.
  • 10.
    Objective The studentwill be able to: solve systems of equations using substitution. A-REI.3.6
  • 11.
    Solving Systems ofEquations  You can solve a system of equations using different methods. The idea is to determine which method is easiest for that particular problem.  These notes show how to solve the system algebraically using SUBSTITUTION.
  • 12.
    Solving a systemof equations by substitution Step 1: Solve an equation for one variable. Step 2: Substitute Step 3: Solve the equation. Step 4: Plug back in to find the other variable. Step 5: Check your solution. Pick the easier equation. The goal is to get y= ; x= ; a= ; etc. Put the equation solved in Step 1 into the other equation. Get the variable by itself. Substitute the value of the variable into the equation. Substitute your ordered pair into BOTH equations.
  • 13.
    1) Solve thesystem using substitution x + y = 5 y = 3 + x Step 1: Solve an equation for one variable. Step 2: Substitute The second equation is already solved for y! x + y = 5 x + (3 + x) = 5 Step 3: Solve the equation. 2x + 3 = 5 2x = 2 x = 1
  • 14.
    1) Solve thesystem using substitution x + y = 5 y = 3 + x Step 4: Plug back in to find the other variable. x + y = 5 (1) + y = 5 y = 4 Step 5: Check your solution. (1, 4) (1) + (4) = 5 (4) = 3 + (1) The solution is (1, 4). What do you think the answer would be if you graphed the two equations?
  • 15.
    Which answer checkscorrectly? 3x – y = 4 x = 4y - 17 1. (2, 2) 2. (5, 3) 3. (3, 5) 4. (3, -5)
  • 16.
    2) Solve thesystem using substitution 3y + x = 7 4x – 2y = 0 Step 1: Solve an equation for one variable. Step 2: Substitute It is easiest to solve the first equation for x. 3y + x = 7 -3y -3y x = -3y + 7 4x – 2y = 0 4(-3y + 7) – 2y = 0
  • 17.
    2) Solve thesystem using substitution 3y + x = 7 4x – 2y = 0 Step 4: Plug back in to find the other variable. 4x – 2y = 0 4x – 2(2) = 0 4x – 4 = 0 4x = 4 x = 1 Step 3: Solve the equation. -12y + 28 – 2y = 0 -14y + 28 = 0 -14y = -28 y = 2
  • 18.
    2) Solve thesystem using substitution 3y + x = 7 4x – 2y = 0 Step 5: Check your solution. (1, 2) 3(2) + (1) = 7 4(1) – 2(2) = 0 When is solving systems by substitution easier to do than graphing? When only one of the equations has a variable already isolated (like in example #1).
  • 19.
    If you solvedthe first equation for x, what would be substituted into the bottom equation. 2x + 4y = 4 3x + 2y = 22 1. -4y + 4 2. -2y + 2 3. -2x + 4 4. -2y+ 22
  • 20.
    3) Solve thesystem using substitution x = 3 – y x + y = 7 Step 1: Solve an equation for one variable. Step 2: Substitute The first equation is already solved for x! x + y = 7 (3 – y) + y = 7 Step 3: Solve the equation. 3 = 7 The variables were eliminated!! This is a special case. Does 3 = 7? FALSE! When the result is FALSE, the answer is NO SOLUTIONS.
  • 21.
    3) Solve thesystem using substitution 2x + y = 4 4x + 2y = 8 Step 1: Solve an equation for one variable. Step 2: Substitute The first equation is easiest to solved for y! y = -2x + 4 4x + 2y = 8 4x + 2(-2x + 4) = 8 Step 3: Solve the equation. 4x – 4x + 8 = 8 8 = 8 This is also a special case. Does 8 = 8? TRUE! When the result is TRUE, the answer is INFINITELY MANY SOLUTIONS.