key term - Dependent Equations

Definition

Dependent equations, in the context of solving systems of linear equations with two variables, refer to a set of equations where one equation can be expressed as a linear combination of the other equation(s). This means that the equations are not independent, and the solutions to the system are not unique.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Dependent equations in a system of linear equations with two variables indicate that the equations are not independent and have infinitely many solutions.
2. The presence of dependent equations in a system of linear equations implies that the system has a non-unique solution, meaning there are multiple solutions that satisfy the equations.
3. When solving a system of linear equations with dependent equations, the goal is to identify the dependent equation and use it to express one variable in terms of the other variable.
4. Dependent equations can be identified by checking if one equation can be expressed as a scalar multiple of the other equation(s) in the system.
5. The solution to a system of linear equations with dependent equations is a set of points that satisfy the equations, rather than a single point.

Review Questions

• Explain how dependent equations in a system of linear equations with two variables differ from independent equations.
  • Dependent equations in a system of linear equations with two variables are not independent, meaning one equation can be expressed as a linear combination of the other equation(s). This results in the system having infinitely many solutions, as opposed to independent equations, which have a unique solution. Dependent equations indicate that the equations are not linearly independent, and the solutions are not unique, whereas independent equations have a single, distinct solution that satisfies all the equations in the system.
• Describe the process of identifying and solving a system of linear equations with dependent equations.
  • To identify a system of linear equations with dependent equations, you need to check if one equation can be expressed as a scalar multiple of the other equation(s) in the system. If this is the case, the equations are dependent, and the system has infinitely many solutions. To solve such a system, the goal is to identify the dependent equation and use it to express one variable in terms of the other variable. This allows you to substitute the expression for one variable into the other equation(s) and solve for the remaining variable, ultimately leading to the set of solutions that satisfy the dependent equations.
• Analyze the implications of having dependent equations in a system of linear equations with two variables, and explain how this affects the solution set.
  • The presence of dependent equations in a system of linear equations with two variables indicates that the equations are not linearly independent, and the system has infinitely many solutions. This is in contrast to a system with independent equations, which has a unique solution. The implication of dependent equations is that the solution set is not a single point, but rather a set of points that satisfy the equations. This means that there are multiple solutions that can satisfy the system, rather than a single, distinct solution. Understanding the properties of dependent equations is crucial in solving systems of linear equations and interpreting the solution set correctly.

Related terms

Independent Equations:

Independent equations in a system of linear equations are equations that cannot be expressed as a linear combination of the other equations in the system. The solutions to independent equations are unique.

Consistent System:

A consistent system of linear equations is a system where the equations have at least one common solution that satisfies all the equations in the system.

Inconsistent System:

An inconsistent system of linear equations is a system where the equations have no common solution that satisfies all the equations in the system.