๐Ÿ“˜ CLASS 10 โ€“ PAIR OF LINEAR EQUATIONS IN TWO VARIABLES (DETAILED NOTES)


๐Ÿ”ถ 1. INTRODUCTION

A linear equation in two variables is an equation of the form:ax+by+c=0ax + by + c = 0ax+by+c=0

Where:

  • a,b,ca, b, ca,b,c are real numbers
  • xxx and yyy are variables
  • a and b cannot both be zero
  • The highest power of variables is 1

Examples:

  • 2x+3y=72x + 3y = 72x+3y=7
  • 3xโˆ’y+5=03x โ€“ y + 5 = 03xโˆ’y+5=0

This equation represents a straight line on a graph.

A pair of linear equations means two lines drawn together:a1x+b1y+c1=0a_1x + b_1y + c_1 = 0a1โ€‹x+b1โ€‹y+c1โ€‹=0 a2x+b2y+c2=0a_2x + b_2y + c_2 = 0a2โ€‹x+b2โ€‹y+c2โ€‹=0

The solution of the pair is the point where the two lines meet.


๐Ÿ”ถ 2. GEOMETRIC INTERPRETATION

Every linear equation represents a line.
So, two equations represent two lines, and their solution depends on how they behave:


1๏ธโƒฃ Case 1: Intersecting Lines โ†’ Unique Solution

If two lines cut each other at one point:

Condition:a1a2โ‰ b1b2\frac{a_1}{a_2} \neq \frac{b_1}{b_2}a2โ€‹a1โ€‹โ€‹๎€ =b2โ€‹b1โ€‹โ€‹

โœ” Exactly one solution
โœ” Lines are not parallel
โœ” System is consistent


2๏ธโƒฃ Case 2: Parallel Lines โ†’ No Solution

If the lines never meet:

Condition:a1a2=b1b2โ‰ c1c2\frac{a_1}{a_2} = \frac{b_1}{b_2} \neq \frac{c_1}{c_2}a2โ€‹a1โ€‹โ€‹=b2โ€‹b1โ€‹โ€‹๎€ =c2โ€‹c1โ€‹โ€‹

โœ” No intersection
โœ” No solution exists
โœ” System is inconsistent


3๏ธโƒฃ Case 3: Coincident Lines โ†’ Infinitely Many Solutions

If both lines lie on top of each other:

Condition:a1a2=b1b2=c1c2\frac{a_1}{a_2} = \frac{b_1}{b_2} = \frac{c_1}{c_2}a2โ€‹a1โ€‹โ€‹=b2โ€‹b1โ€‹โ€‹=c2โ€‹c1โ€‹โ€‹

โœ” All points of one line lie on the other
โœ” Infinitely many solutions
โœ” System is consistent & dependent


๐Ÿ”ถ 3. SOLVING LINEAR EQUATIONS โ€” METHODS

There are 4 major methods, each with detailed steps.


โœจ METHOD 1: Graphical Method

Steps to solve graphically:

  1. Convert equations to the form y=mx+cy = mx + cy=mx+c (Slope-intercept form)
  2. Take two values of x, find corresponding y.
  3. Plot points on graph.
  4. Draw lines.
  5. Their intersection point gives the solution.

Graphical Results:

  • Intersecting lines โ†’ one solution
  • Parallel lines โ†’ no solution
  • Coincident lines โ†’ infinite solutions

Graphical method gives approximate solutions.


โœจ METHOD 2: Substitution Method

Steps:

  1. Solve one equation for one variable
    (example: x=7โˆ’yx = 7 โ€“ yx=7โˆ’y)
  2. Substitute in the other equation.
  3. Solve for the remaining variable.
  4. Put value back to find the other variable.

Advantages:

  • Best when one variable is already isolated (like x=5x = 5x=5).

โœจ METHOD 3: Elimination Method (Most Used in Exams)

Steps:

  1. Multiply equations to make coefficients of either x or y equal.
  2. Add or subtract equations to eliminate that variable.
  3. Solve for the remaining variable.
  4. Substitute in any original equation.

Important Tips:

  • If signs are same, subtract.
  • If signs are opposite, add.
    (For faster elimination)

โœจ METHOD 4: Cross-Multiplication Method

Use when equations are written in standard form:a1x+b1y+c1=0a2x+b2y+c2=0a_1x + b_1y + c_1 = 0 \\ a_2x + b_2y + c_2 = 0a1โ€‹x+b1โ€‹y+c1โ€‹=0a2โ€‹x+b2โ€‹y+c2โ€‹=0

Formula:

xb1c2โˆ’b2c1=yc1a2โˆ’c2a1=1a1b2โˆ’a2b1\frac{x}{b_1c_2 โ€“ b_2c_1} = \frac{y}{c_1a_2 โ€“ c_2a_1} = \frac{1}{a_1b_2 โ€“ a_2b_1}b1โ€‹c2โ€‹โˆ’b2โ€‹c1โ€‹xโ€‹=c1โ€‹a2โ€‹โˆ’c2โ€‹a1โ€‹yโ€‹=a1โ€‹b2โ€‹โˆ’a2โ€‹b1โ€‹1โ€‹

If denominator = 0 โ†’ no unique solution.

This is the fastest algebraic method.


๐Ÿ”ถ 4. CONDITIONS FOR SOLVABILITY (VERY IMPORTANT)

Given:a1x+b1y+c1=0a2x+b2y+c2=0a_1x + b_1y + c_1 = 0 \\ a_2x + b_2y + c_2 = 0a1โ€‹x+b1โ€‹y+c1โ€‹=0a2โ€‹x+b2โ€‹y+c2โ€‹=0

Case 1: Unique Solution

a1a2โ‰ b1b2\frac{a_1}{a_2} \neq \frac{b_1}{b_2}a2โ€‹a1โ€‹โ€‹๎€ =b2โ€‹b1โ€‹โ€‹

Case 2: No Solution

a1a2=b1b2โ‰ c1c2\frac{a_1}{a_2} = \frac{b_1}{b_2} \neq \frac{c_1}{c_2}a2โ€‹a1โ€‹โ€‹=b2โ€‹b1โ€‹โ€‹๎€ =c2โ€‹c1โ€‹โ€‹

Case 3: Infinitely Many Solutions

a1a2=b1b2=c1c2\frac{a_1}{a_2} = \frac{b_1}{b_2} = \frac{c_1}{c_2}a2โ€‹a1โ€‹โ€‹=b2โ€‹b1โ€‹โ€‹=c2โ€‹c1โ€‹โ€‹


๐Ÿ”ถ 5. SPECIAL CASES


๐Ÿ”ธ1. Both equations in intercept form

xa1+yb1=1\frac{x}{a_1} + \frac{y}{b_1} = 1a1โ€‹xโ€‹+b1โ€‹yโ€‹=1 xa2+yb2=1\frac{x}{a_2} + \frac{y}{b_2} = 1a2โ€‹xโ€‹+b2โ€‹yโ€‹=1

Intersection point can be found by equating intercepts.


๐Ÿ”ธ2. Equations with fractions

Multiply by LCM to remove fractions.


๐Ÿ”ธ3. Word Problems Category

Word problems usually fall under:

  • Age Problems
  • Speed-Distance-Time
  • Number/Fraction Problems
  • Price/Cost Problems
  • Geometry Based Problems
  • Mixture/Ratio Problems

Understanding how to make equations is key.


๐Ÿ”ถ 6. SOLVED EXAMPLES (DETAILED)

Example 1: (Elimination)

Solve:3x+2y=113x + 2y = 113x+2y=11 2xโˆ’y=42x โ€“ y = 42xโˆ’y=4

Multiply second equation by 2:4xโˆ’2y=84x โ€“ 2y = 84xโˆ’2y=8

Add with first:7x=19โ‡’x=1977x = 19 \Rightarrow x = \frac{19}{7}7x=19โ‡’x=719โ€‹

Substitute back:3(197)+2y=113\left(\frac{19}{7}\right) + 2y = 113(719โ€‹)+2y=11

Solve for y:577+2y=11โ†’2y=207โ†’y=107\frac{57}{7} + 2y = 11 โ†’ 2y = \frac{20}{7} โ†’ y = \frac{10}{7}757โ€‹+2y=11โ†’2y=720โ€‹โ†’y=710โ€‹

โœ” Solution:(197,ย 107)\left(\frac{19}{7},\ \frac{10}{7}\right)(719โ€‹,ย 710โ€‹)


Example 2: (Substitution)

Solve:x+y=7xโˆ’y=1x + y = 7 x โ€“ y = 1x+y=7xโˆ’y=1

From first:x=7โˆ’yx = 7 โ€“ yx=7โˆ’y

Substitute:7โˆ’yโˆ’y=1โ‡’โˆ’2y=โˆ’6โ‡’y=37 โ€“ y โ€“ y = 1 \Rightarrow -2y = -6 \Rightarrow y = 37โˆ’yโˆ’y=1โ‡’โˆ’2y=โˆ’6โ‡’y=3

Then x=4x = 4x=4.

โœ” Solution: (4,3)(4, 3)(4,3)


Example 3: (Cross Multiplication)

2x+3yโˆ’13=02x + 3y โ€“ 13 = 02x+3yโˆ’13=0 3xโˆ’yโˆ’5=03x โ€“ y โ€“ 5 = 03xโˆ’yโˆ’5=0

Apply formula:x3(โˆ’5)โˆ’(โˆ’1)(โˆ’13)=y(โˆ’13)(3)โˆ’(โˆ’5)(2)=12(โˆ’1)โˆ’(3)(3)\frac{x}{3(-5) โ€“ (-1)(-13)} = \frac{y}{(-13)(3) โ€“ (-5)(2)} = \frac{1}{2(-1) โ€“ (3)(3)}3(โˆ’5)โˆ’(โˆ’1)(โˆ’13)xโ€‹=(โˆ’13)(3)โˆ’(โˆ’5)(2)yโ€‹=2(โˆ’1)โˆ’(3)(3)1โ€‹

Solve step-by-step โ†’ final values.


๐Ÿ”ถ 7. PRACTICE QUESTIONS (HIGH-YIELD)

If you want practice sets, I can generate:

  • 20 questions easy
  • 20 questions standard
  • 20 questions HOTS
  • Board pattern sample paper

๐Ÿ”ถ 8. SUMMARY (EXAM-READY)

โœ” Linear equation form:

ax+by+c=0ax + by + c = 0ax+by+c=0

โœ” Conditions for solutions:

ConditionMeaning
a1/a2โ‰ b1/b2a_1/a_2 โ‰  b_1/b_2a1โ€‹/a2โ€‹๎€ =b1โ€‹/b2โ€‹Unique solution
a1/a2=b1/b2โ‰ c1/c2a_1/a_2 = b_1/b_2 โ‰  c_1/c_2a1โ€‹/a2โ€‹=b1โ€‹/b2โ€‹๎€ =c1โ€‹/c2โ€‹No solution
a1/a2=b1/b2=c1/c2a_1/a_2 = b_1/b_2 = c_1/c_2a1โ€‹/a2โ€‹=b1โ€‹/b2โ€‹=c1โ€‹/c2โ€‹Infinite solutions

โœ” Methods:

  • Substitution
  • Elimination
  • Graphical
  • Cross multiplication