Linear and non-linear system example

Nikola Pavličević

2019/12/24

Briefly a linear system is a set of one or more linear equations (Abramson

2017). There may be one, more than one, infinite or no solutions. As a
concrete example let us take equations given next. It can be recognized that
solution can be found through simple operations. These are addition, sub-
traction, multiplication and division. It should be noted that multiplication
or division do not change an equation (same conditions still hold). Making
use of simple operations is given next alongside to solutions of the system (it
is x = 2, y = 4, z = −3, interpreted as intersection of three planes in this
case, figure 3, additional cases given in figures 1 and 2).

5x - 6y - 7z = 7 (1)
6x - 4y + 10z = - 34 (2)
2x + 4y - 3z = 29 (3)

A second stage. Try to eliminate one variable (y) by adding third equation
to second and first equations.

16x + 0y - 23z = 101 (4)

8x + 0y + 7z = - 5 (5)
2x + 4y - 3z = 29 (6)

A third stage. Try to eliminate another variable (x) by adding second

equation to first.

1
 0x + 0y - 37z = 111 (7)
8x + 0y + 7z = - 5 (8)
2x + 4y - 3z = 29 (9)

A fourth stage. Here one variable is already given (z = −3). By simple

substitution variable x is given as x = 2 (from second equation). Again by
simple substitution variable y is given as y = 4 (from third equation). It can
also be noted that same operations can be performed in matrix form.

Figure 1: One plane

2
Figure 2: Couple of planes

3
 Figure 3: Three planes and a solution

Next let us look at application of linear system to find profit of a company.

In this case there are couple of linear equations, one to model revenue and
other to model cost. The profit is revenue less cost. A concrete example
is r(x) = 4.75x (revenue, x number of books sold for example), c(x) =
3.5x + 1000 (cost) and p(x) = r(x) − c(x) = 1.25x + 1000 (profit). By solving
system r(x) = c(x), 4.75x = 3.5x + 1000 it is possible to find break even
point (revenue and costs are same, profit is zero). This happens if x = 800.
Any number of books sold above 800 yields profit (USD 1.25 per additional
book sold, same as slope of profit function, figure 4, Pavlicevic 2019a).

4
 Figure 4: Linear profit model

Next a non-linear system is a set of one or more non-linear equations

(quadratic, cubic, exponential and so on). Alongside non-linear equations
it can contain linear equations. A concrete example is, again, to determine
profit of a company. It is given as r(x) = 59x − 2x2 (revenue, x number of
shirts sold for example), c(x) = 7x + 10 (cost) and p(x) = r(x) − c(x) =
−2x2 + 52x − 10 (profit). Here a break even point is given as r(x) = c(x)
and 59x − 2x2 = 7x + 10 (x = 25.75). At the same time, it can be noticed
that profit is quadratic function and product is profitable only in certain
range (for example if x > 25.75 marginal gains become negative and each
additional product sold yields a loss). For this reason it may be better to
look for maximum profit possible (given at x = −b2a
= 52
4
, figure 5, Pavlicevic
2019b).

5
 Figure 5: Quadratic profit model

References

Abramson, Jay (2017). “Algebra and trigonometry”. In: 1st ed. OpenStax.
Chap. 11, pp. 875–972.
Pavlicevic, Nikola (2019a). Linear profit model. Online. url: https://www.
desmos.com/calculator/0wa6faqyf7.
— (2019b). Quadratic profit model. Online. url: https : / / www . desmos .
com/calculator/bhyi4gxq2z.