Module 5
Solving systems of nonlinear equations.
At the end of the module, students should be able to
solve systems of nonlinear equations involving two variables using substitution,
elimination and graphical method;
solve word problems involving systems of nonlinear equations.
System of nonlinear equations is a system of equations where at least one of the equations is
nonlinear.
A solution to a system of equations is an ordered pair that satisfies each of the given equations.
To solve a system of equations, find the set of all solutions to the given system of equations.
Substitution Method
The substitution method of solving a system of nonlinear equations involves solving for
one of the variables, say y, in any of the given equations and substituting the equivalent
expressions for y in the other equation.
The following steps are employed in solving systems of nonlinear equations by the
substitution method:
1. Solve one of the equations for one variable in terms of the other variable.
2. Substitute the resulting expression in step 1 in the other equation to obtain an equation
in one variable. Solve the equation.
3. Substitute the value obtained in step 2 in the equation obtained in step 1 to solve for
the value of the other variable.
4. Check if the solutions satisfy the original equations.
Examples:
1. Solve the system of equations.
𝑥 − 𝑦 = −1
{
𝑦 = 𝑥2 + 1
SOLUTION
Solve x in the first equation.
𝑥 − 𝑦 = −1
𝑥 =𝑦−1
Substitute the resulting expression into the second equation.
𝑦 = 𝑥2 + 1
𝑦 = (𝑦 − 1)2 + 1 Substitute expression for x.
Expand the equation and set it equal to zero.
𝑦 = (𝑦 − 1)2 + 1
𝑦 = (𝑦 2 − 2𝑦 + 1) + 1
𝑦 = 𝑦 2 − 2𝑦 + 2
0 = 𝑦 2 − 2𝑦 − 𝑦 + 2
0 = 𝑦 2 − 3𝑦 + 2
0 = (𝑦 − 2)(𝑦 − 1)
Solving for y gives 𝑦 = 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 = 1. Next, substitute each value for y into the first equation to
solve for x. always substitute the value into the linear equation to check extraneous solutions.
𝑥 =𝑦−1
𝑥 =2−1
𝑥=1
𝑥 =1−1
𝑥=0
The solutions are (1,2) and (0,1), which can be verified by substituting these (x,y) values into
both of the original equations.
2. Find the solution of the given system.
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 5
{
𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 5
Solution:
One of the equations has already been solved for y. we will substitute y=3x-5 into the first
equation.
𝑥 2 + (3𝑥 − 5)2 = 5
𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 2 − 30𝑥 + 25 = 5
10𝑥 2 − 30𝑥 + 20 = 0
𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 2 = 0
Now, we factor and solve for x.
(𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 2) = 0
(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 1) = 0
𝑥 = 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = 1
Substitute the two x-values into the original linear equation to solve for y.
𝑦 = 3(2) − 5
𝑦=1
𝑦 = 3(1) − 5
𝑦 = −2
The solutions of the given system of nonlinear equations are (2,1)𝑎𝑛𝑑 (1, −2).
