CHAPTER 3

3.1 You can solve simultaneous linear equations by elimination.

Example 1
Solve the equations:
a 2x  3y  8 b 4x  5y  4
3x  y  23 6x  2y  25

First look for a way to eliminate x or y.

a 2x  3y  8
Multiply the 2nd equation by 3 to get 3y in
9x  3y  69 each equation.
11x  77 Then add, since the 3y terms have different
signs and y will be eliminated.
x7

Use x  7 in the first equation to find y.

14  3y  8
3y  8  14
y  2
So solution is x  7, y  2

y
4
3
2x  3y  8
You can consider the solution graphically. 2
The graph of each equation is a straight line. 1
The two straight lines intersect at (7, 2).
4 2 0 2 4 6 8 x
1
2
3
4 3x  y  23

b 12x  15y  12
12x  4y  50 Multiply the first equation by 3 and multiply
the 2nd equation by 2 to get 12x in each
19y  38
equation.
y2 Subtract, since the 12x terms have the same
sign (both positive).

4x  10  4 Use y  2 in the first equation to find the

4x  14 value of x.

x  321
So solution is x  321, y  2

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 Equations and inequalities

y
4
3 4x  5y  4
Graphically, each equation is a straight line.
2
The two straight lines intersect at (3.5, 2).
1

4 2 0 2 4 6 8 x
1
2
3
4
6x  2y  25
Exercise 3A
Solve these simultaneous equations by elimination:
1 2x  y  6 2 7x  3y  16 3 5x  2y  6
4x  3y  22 2x  9y  29 3x  10y  26

4 2x  y  12 5 3x  2y  6 6 3x  8y  33
6x  2y  21 6x  3y  2 6x  3  5y

3.2 You can solve simultaneous linear equations by substitution.

Example 2
Solve the equations:
2x  y  1
4x  2y  30

y  2x  1 Rearrange an equation to get either x  …

or y  … (here y  …).

4x  2(2x  1)  30 Substitute this into the other equation (here

in place of y).

4x  4x  2  30 Solve for x.

8x  28
x  321
y  2(321)  1  8 Substitute x  312 into y  2x  1 to find
the value of y.
So solution is x  321, y  8.

Exercise 3B
Solve these simultaneous equations by substitution:
1 x  3y  11 2 4x  3y  40 3 3x  y  7 4 2y  2x  3
4x  7y  6 2x  y  5 10x  3y  2 3y  x  1
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CHAPTER 3

3.3 You can use the substitution method to solve simultaneous equations where one
equation is linear and the other is quadratic.

Example 3
Solve the equations:
a x  2y  3 b 3x  2y  1
x2  3xy  10 x2  y2  25
Rearrange the linear equation to get x  …
a x  3  2y or y  … (here x  …).

(3  2y)2  3y(3  2y)  10 Substitute this into the quadratic equation

(here in place of x).
(3  2y)2 means (3  2y)(3  2y)
9  12y  4y2  9y  6y2  10 (see Chapter 1).
2y2  3y  1  0
Solve for y using factorisation.
2y  3y  1  0
2

(2y  1)(y  1)  0
Find the corresponding x-values by
y  21 or y  1 substituting the y-values into x  3  2y.

So x  4 or x  5

There are two solution pairs. The graph of

Solutions are x  4, y  21 the linear equation (straight line) would
intersect the graph of the quadratic (curve)
and x  5, y  1 at two points.

b 3x  2y  1
2y  3x  1
x 3 1
y   Find y  … from linear equation.
2

x2  
3x  1 2
 
2  25 3x  1
Substitute y   into the quadratic
2
equation to form an equation in x.
x2  9x2  6x  1

4   25 Now multiply by 4.
4x2  9x2  6x  1  100
13x2  6x  99  0
Solve for x.
(13x  33)(x  3)  0
x  3133 or x  3
3x  1
y  5136 or y  4 Substitute x-values into y  .
2
Solutions are x  3, y  4

and x  3133, y  5136

30
 Equations and inequalities

Graphically, the linear equation (straight line) y

intersects the quadratic equation (curve) at two 6
points. x2  y2  25
4
(This curve is a circle. You will learn about its
equation in Book C2.)
2

6 4 2 0 2 4 6 x

2

4
3x  2y  1
6

It is possible, of course, that a given straight line and a given curve do not intersect. In this case,
the quadratic equation that has to be solved would have no real roots (in this case b2  4ac  0).
(See Section 2.6.)

Exercise 3C

1 Solve the simultaneous equations:

a x  y  11 b 2x  y  1 c y  3x
xy  30 x2  y2  1 2y2  xy  15
d xy9 e 3a  b  8 f 2u  v  7
x2  3xy  2y2  0 3a2  b2  28 uv  6
2 Find the coordinates of the points at which the line with equation y  x  4 intersects the
curve with equation y2  2x2  17.
3 Find the coordinates of the points at which the line with equation y  3x  1 intersects the
curve with equation y2  xy  15.
4 Solve the simultaneous equations:
a 3x  2y  7 b 2x  2y  7
x2  y  8 x2  4y2  8
5 Solve the simultaneous equations, giving your answers in their simplest surd form:
a xy6 b 2x  3y  13
xy  4 x2  y2  78

3.4 You can solve linear inequalities using similar methods to those for solving linear
equations.

You need to be careful when you multiply or divide an inequality by a negative number.
You need to turn round the inequality sign:
52
Multiply by 2 10  4
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CHAPTER 3

 When you multiply or divide an inequality by a negative number, you need to change the
inequality sign to its opposite.

Example 4
Find the set of values of x for which:

a 2x  5  7

b 5x  9  x  20

c 12  3x  27

d 3(x  5)  5  2(x  8)

a 2x  5  7
2x  12 Add 5 to both sides.

x6 Divide both sides by 2.

b 5x  9  x  20
4x  9  20 Subtract x from both sides.
4x  11 Subtract 9 from both sides.
x  2.75 Divide both sides by 4.

For c, two approaches are shown:

c 12  3x  27
3x  15 Subtract 12 from both sides.

x  5 Divide both sides by 3. (You therefore

need to turn round the inequality sign.)

12  3x  27
12  27  3x Add 3x to both sides.
15  3x Subtract 27 from both sides.
5  x Divide both sides by 3.
x  5 Rewrite with x on LHS.

d 3(x  5)  5  2(x  8)
3x  15  5  2x  16 Multiply out (note: 2 8  16).
5x  5  16  15 Add 15 to both sides.
5x  36
x  7.2 Divide both sides by 5.

32
 Equations and inequalities

You may sometimes need to find the set of values of x for which two inequalities are true
together. Number lines are helpful here.

Example 5
Find the set of values of x for which:
3x  5  x  8 and 5x  x  8

3x  5  x  8 5x  x  8
2x  5  8 4x  8
2x  13 x  2
x  6.5
Draw a number line to illustrate the two
inequalities.
The ‘hollow dots’ at the end of each line
show that the end value is not included in
the set of values.
4 2 0 2 4 6 8
x  6.5 Show an included end value (
or ) by
using a ‘solid dot’ (●).
x  2
The two sets of values overlap (or intersect)
where 2  x  6.5.
So the required set of values is Notice here how this is written when x lies
2  x  6.5. between two values.

Example 6
Find the set of values of x for which:
x  5  1  x and 15  3x  5  2x

x5  1x 15  3x  5  2x
2x  5  1 10  3x  2x
2x  6 10  5x
x3 2x
x2

4 2 0 2 4 6 8 Draw a number line. Note that there is no

x3 overlap between the two sets of values.
x2

So there are no values of x for which both

inequalities are true together.

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CHAPTER 3

Example 7
Find the set of values of x for which:
4x  7  3 and 17  11  2x

4x  7  3 17  11  2x
4x  4 17  11  2x
x  1 6  2x
3x
x3

4 2 0 2 4 6 8 Draw a number line. Note that the two sets

x  1 of values overlap where x  3.
x3

So the required set of values is

x  3.

Exercise 3D

1 Find the set of values of x for which:

a 2x  3  5 b 5x  4  39
c 6x  3  2x  7 d 5x  6
12  x
e 15  x  4 f 21  2x  8  3x
g 1  x  25  3x h 7x  7  7  7x
i 5  0.5x  1 j 5x  4  12  2x

2 Find the set of values of x for which:

a 2(x  3)  0 b 8(1  x)  x  1
c 3(x  7)
8  x d 2(x  3)  (x  12)  0
e 1  11(2  x)  10(x  4) f 2(x  5)  3(4  x)
g 12x  3(x  3)  45 h x  2(5  2x)  11
i x(x  4)  x2  2 j x(5  x)  3  x  x2

3 Find the set of values of x for which:

a 3(x  2)  x  4 and 4x  12  2x  17
b 2x  5  x  1 and 7(x  1)  23  x
c 2x  3  2 and 3(x  2)  12  x
d 15  x  2(11  x) and 5(3x  1)  12x  19
e 3x  8
20 and 2(3x  7)  x  6
34
 Equations and inequalities

3.5 To solve a quadratic inequality you

● solve the corresponding quadratic equation, then
● sketch the graph of the quadratic function, then
● use your sketch to find the required set of values.

Example 8
Find the set of values of x for which x2  4x  5  0 and draw a sketch to show this.

x2  4x  5  0 Quadratic equation.
Factorise (or use the quadratic formula).
(x  1)(x  5)  0 (See Section 2.5.)

x  1 or x  5 1 and 5 are called critical values.

Your sketch does not need to be accurate.

All you really need to know is that the graph
1 0 5 x
is ‘ -shaped’ and crosses the x-axis at 1
and 5. (See Section 2.6.)
x2  4x  5  0 (y  0) for the part of the
graph below the x-axis, as shown by the
So the required set of values is 1  x  5. paler part in the rough sketch.

Example 9
Find the set of values of x for which x2  4x  5  0.

The only difference between this example and

x2  4x  5  0 the previous example is that it has to be
(x  1)(x  5)  0 greater than 0 ( 0). The solution would be
exactly the same apart from the final stage.
x2  4x  5  0 (y  0) for the part of the
x  1 or x  5 graph above the x-axis, as shown by the
darker parts of the rough sketch in Example 8.
y

1 0 5 x

The required set of values is x  1 or x  5.

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CHAPTER 3

Be careful how you write down solutions like those on page 33.

1  x  5 is fine, showing that x is between 1 and 5.

But it is wrong to write something like 5  x  1 or 1  x  5 because x cannot be less

than 1 and greater than 5 at the same time.

This type of solution (the darker parts of the graph) needs to be written in two separate parts,
x  1, x  5.

Example 10
Find the set of values of x for which 3  5x  2x2  0 and sketch the graph of
y  3  5x  2x2.

3  5x  2x2  0 Quadratic equation.

2x2  5x  3  0 Multiply by 1 (so it’s easier to factorise).

(2x  1)(x  3)  0 1 and 3 are the critical values.

2

x  or x  3
1

2

y
Since the coefficient of x2 is negative, the
graph is ‘upside-down -shaped’ and
crosses the x-axis at
3 and 12 (see Section 2.6).
3  5x  2x2  0 (y  0) for the outer parts
3 0 1 x of the graph, below the x-axis, as shown by
2
the paler parts in the rough sketch.

So the required set of values is

x  3 or x  21.

You may have to rearrange the quadratic inequality to get all the terms ‘on one side’ before you
can solve it, as shown in the next example.

36
 Equations and inequalities

Example 11 There are two possible approaches for

Method 1, depending on which side of the
Find the set of values of x for which 12  4x  x .
2
inequality sign you put the expression.
Method 1: sketch graph

Find the set of values of x for which

12  4x  x2 12  4x  x2.
12  4x  x2  0 Method 2: table

x2  4x  12  0 12  4x  x2
(x  2)(x  6)  0 0  x2  4x  12
x  2 or x  6 x2  4x  12  0

Sketch of y  12  4x  x2 x2  4x  12  0
y (x  2)(x  6)  0
x  2 or x  6
Use the critical values to
split the real number line
2 0 6 x into sets.

2 6

12  4x  x2  0 x  2 2  x  6 x  6
Solution: 2  x  6 (x  2)   
(x  6)   
(x  2)(x  6)   
12  4x  x 2

0  x2  4x  12 For each set, check

x2  4x  12  0 whether the set of values
makes the value of the
bracket positive or
x2  4x  12  0 negative.
(x  2)(x  6)  0
x  2 or x  6
Sketch of y  x2  4x  12
For example, if x  2, (x  2)
y is negative, (x  6) is negative,
(x  2)(x  6) is
(neg) (neg)  positive.

x2  4x  12  0
2 0 6 x
(x  2)(x  6)  0
(x  2)(x  6) is negative for 2  x  6
Solution: 2  x  6
x2  4x  12  0
Solution: 2  x  6

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CHAPTER 3

Example 12
Find the set of values of x for which 12  4x  x2 and 5x  3  2.

Solving 12  4x  x2 gives 2  x  6
(see Example 11).
Solving 5x  3  2 gives x  1.

4 2 0 2 4 6 8
2  x  6
x1

The two sets of values overlap where

1  x  6.
So the solution is 1  x  6.

Exercise 3E

1 Find the set of values of x for which:

a x2  11x  24  0 b 12  x  x2  0 c x2  3x  10  0
d x2  7x  12  0 e 7  13x  2x2  0 f 10  x  2x2  0
g 4x2  8x  3
0 h 2  7x  3x2  0 i x2  9  0
j 6x2  11x  10  0 k x2  5x  0 l 2x2  3x
0

2 Find the set of values of x for which:

a x2  10  3x b 11  x2  10
c x(3  2x)  1 d x(x  11)  3(1  x2)

3 Find the set of values of x for which:

a x2  7x  10  0 and 3x  5  17 b x2  x  6  0 and 10  2x  5
c 4x2  3x  1  0 and 4(x  2)  15  (x  7) d 2x2  x  1  0 and 14  3x  2
e x2  x  12  0 and 3x  17  2 f x2  2x  3  0 and x2  3x  2  0

4 a Find the range of values of k for which the equation x2  kx  (k  3)  0 has real roots.
b Find the range of values of p for which the roots of the equation px2  px  2  0 are real.

Mixed exercise 3F

1 Solve the simultaneous equations:

x  2y  3
E
x2  4y2  33
38
 Equations and inequalities

2 Show that the elimination of x from the simultaneous equations

x  2y  1
3xy  y2  8
produces the equation
5y2  3y  8  0.
Solve this quadratic equation and hence find the pairs (x, y) for which the
simultaneous equations are satisfied. E

3 a Given that 3x  9y1, show that x  2y  2.

b Solve the simultaneous equations:
x  2y  2
x2  y2  7 E

4 Solve the simultaneous equations:

x  2y  3
x2  2y  4y2  18 E

5 a Solve the inequality 3x  8  x  13.

b Solve the inequality x2  5x  14  0. E

6 Find the set of values of x for which (x  1)(x  4)  2(x  4). E

7 a Use algebra to solve (x  1)(x  2)  18.

b Hence, or otherwise, find the set of values of x for which (x  1)(x  2)  18. E

8 Find the set of values of x for which:

a 6x  7  2x  3
b 2x2  11x  5  0
c both 6x  7  2x  3 and 2x2  11x  5  0. E

9 Find the values of k for which kx2  8x  5  0 has real roots.

10 Find algebraically the set of values of x for which (2x  3)(x  2)  3(x  2). E

11 a Find, as surds, the roots of the equation 2(x  1)(x  4)  (x  2)2  0.

b Hence find the set of values of x for which 2(x  1)(x  4)  (x  2)2  0. E

12 a Use algebra to find the set of values of x for which x(x  5)  36.
b Using your answer to part a, find the set of values of y for which y2(y2  5)  36.

13 The specification for a rectangular car park states that the length x m is to be 5 m
more than the breadth. The perimeter of the car park is to be greater than 32 m. E
a Form a linear inequality in x.
The area of the car park is to be less than 104 m2.
b Form a quadratic inequality in x.
c By solving your inequalities, determine the set of possible values of x. E
39
CHAPTER 3

Summary of key points

1 You can solve linear simultaneous equations by
elimination or substitution.

2 You can use the substitution method to solve simultaneous

equations, where one equation is linear and the other is
quadratic. You usually start by finding an expression for x or y
from the linear equation.

3 When you multiply or divide an inequality by a negative number,

you need to change the inequality sign to its opposite.

4 To solve a quadratic inequality you

● solve the corresponding quadratic equation, then
● sketch the graph of the quadratic function, then
● use your sketch to find the required set of values.

40