Linear Equations in Two Variables - Solutions on the Graph
What do you mean by values that satisfy an equation ?
In the equation 3x + 1 = 7, x is unknown.
But we can solve the unknown x
The left side of the equation 3x + 1 equals to the value of 7 on the right of the equation.
Only one value of x satisfies the equation, ie. if x = 2,
the left side of the equation becomes 3(2) + 1 = 6 + 1 = 7 (equals the value on the right)
We can also solve the equation 3x + 1 = 7 algebraically by this
Subtracting 1 from both sides,
3x + 1 - 1 = 7 - 1
then 3x = 6
Dividing both sides by 3,
x = 2
What about linear equations of two variables?
for example 2x + y = 7
What are the values of x and y which satisfy the equation above?
If x = 1, and y = 5
the left side of the equation becomes 2(1) + 5 = 7 (equals the value on the right of the equation.
If x = 2, and y = 3
the left side of the equation becomes 2(2) + 3 = 7 (again equals value on the right of equation)
If x = 1.5 and y = 4
the left side of the equation is 2(1.5) + 4 = 7 (again equals value on the right of equation)
In other words the pairs of values x =1 and y = 5, x = 2 and y = 3, x = 1.5 and y = 4 are possible solutions to the unknowns x and y since they satisfy the equation 2x + y = 7.
In fact, there are countless number of possible pairs of x and y values that satisfy the equation.
With this applet below, find the x and y values that satisfy equations of lines appearing below.
How do the pairs of x and y values relate to the equation of the line?
What do the x and y coordinates of all the points on the line have to do with the linear equation in two variables ?