Systems of Equations

A system of equations is a set of two or

more equations with 2 variables.
The solution to a system is the point
where two lines intersect.
Graphically
solution

Table of ValuesAlgebraic Comparison

x

y1

y2

5 solution

10

-3

15

let y1=y2
solve for x
check for y

Solving Systems

Step 1: Define variables and setup 2

equations
Step 2: Solve equation
using the comparison
method
Step 3: Do a check
to confirm your
answer
Step 4: Write a concluding statement

(1) Mr. Harvey has a collection of pennies and nickels in his

retirement fund. He has a total of 357 coins worth $7.93.
How many coins of each type does Mr. Harvey have?
Let x rep the # of pennies
Let y rep the # of nickels
x + y = 357
1x + 5y = 793

# of coins
total cost

(2) a) Define your variables

b) Setup the TWO equations
Donald Trump has a collection of 1000 $ bills and bars of gold
($6000 each) in his retirement fund. He has a total of 300 items
worth $600 000. How many of each item does Mr. Trump have?

Let x rep the # of 1000 $ bills

Let y rep the # of bars of gold
x + y = 300

# of items
1000x + 6000y = 600 000 total value

(3) a) Define your variables

b) Setup the TWO equations
Your Mrs. Perrier gives out awards. She gives trophies
($5/each) and cards ($2/each). If she buys 32 awards in
total costing $97 in all, how many trophies did she buy?

Let x rep the # of trophies

Let y rep the # of cards
5x + 2y = 97

total value
x + y = 32 # of items

(4) a) Define your variables

b) Setup the TWO equations

A job as Santa pays the following.

We Love Christmas Co: $25 a day plus $3 per photo
Milk and Cookies Co: $20 plus $4 per photo.
After how many photos do the two companies pay the same amount?

Let x rep the # of photos

Let y rep Santas salary ($)
y = 3x+ 25
y = 4x + 20

Company 1
Company 2

(5) a) Define your variables

b) Setup the TWO equations

A giant tank of eggnog is leaking! The tank contains 6500 L of eggnog and
empties at a rate of 95 L/min. Workers find a giant wheelbarrow to hold the
leaking liquid. If the wheelbarrow already contained 80 L of eggnog, when
will the wheel barrow contain the same amount of liquid as the tank?

Let x rep the # of time (min)

Let y rep volume of eggnog (L)
y = -95x+ 6500
y = 95x + 80

tank
wheelbarrow

(6) a) Define your variables

b) Setup the TWO equations
A scientist worked for 6 days on a project and her assistant worked
for 5 days, earning a total of $780. They earned $500 on the next
project, which required 4 days work from the scientist and 3 days
work from the assistant. How much money did each earn per day?

Let x rep the scientists daily salary ($)

Let y rep the assistants daily salary ($)
6x + 5y = 780
4x + 3y = 500

Project 1
Project 2

Homework
Page 82-87

In class assignment
Complete this on a piece of paper. You will be
handing it in!
Mr. Proulx transplanted a 5 meter tall birch tree and a
0.75 meter tall maple tree.
The birch has a yearly growth rate of 0.10 meters and
the maple has a yearly growth rate of 0.15 meters.
In a few years the 2 trees will reach the same height.
What is this height?
1st: Set up the two equations
2nd: Solve for x
3rd: Create a table of values
4th: Create a graph to show where the two
values meet.