SYSTEMS OF NONLINEAR EQUATIONS (PRE-CAL NOTES)
Definition:
• A nonlinear equation is an equation that has at least one variable in second degree or
higher.
• A system of nonlinear equations is a system containing at least one nonlinear equation.
Recall that a linear equation can take the form Ax+By+C=0. Any equation that cannot be
written in this form is nonlinear.
• The solution set of a system of nonlinear equations is the set of all ordered pairs (x, y)
that satisfies the given system of nonlinear equations.
Methods for Solving a System of Nonlinear Equations:
I. Substitution
When solving the system by substitution, one equation is expressed by one variable in terms of the
other, and then substitute this expression in the second equation. The resulting linear equation can
then be solved. Finally substitute this partial solution to any of the two original equations.
Example 1.1:
9𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 9
Solve the system by using substitution: {
𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 3
Solution:
The equation 𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 3 is solved for 𝑦. 𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 3
9𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 9
Substitute 3𝑥 − 3 for 𝑦 in the first equation. 9𝑥 2 + (3𝑥 − 3)2 = 9
Solve the equation for 𝑥. 9𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 2 − 18𝑥 + 9 = 9
18𝑥 2 − 18𝑥 = 0
18𝑥(𝑥 − 1) = 0
18𝑥 = 0 𝑥−1=0
18𝑥 0
= 𝑥 = 0+1
18 18
𝑥=0 𝑥=1
Substitute 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥 = 1 into 𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 3 to find 𝑦. 𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 3 𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 3
𝑦 = 3(0) − 3 𝑦 = 3(1) − 3
𝑦 = −3 𝑦=0
The ordered pairs are (0, -3), (1,0)
Check both ordered pairs in both equations.
The solutions are (0,−3),(1,0).
Example 1.2:
𝑥2 − 𝑦 = 0
Solve the system by using substitution: {
𝑦 = 𝑥−2
Solution:
The equation 𝑦 = 𝑥 − 2 is solved for 𝑦. 𝑦 = 𝑥−2
𝑥2 − 𝑦 = 0
Substitute 𝑥 − 2 for 𝑦 in the first equation. 𝑥 2 − (𝑥 − 2) = 0
Solve the equation for 𝑥. 𝑥2 − 𝑥 + 2 = 0
This doesn't factor easily, so we can check the 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
discriminant. (−1) 2 − 4(1)(2)
−7
The discriminant is negative, so there is no real solution. The system has no solution.
II. Elimination
When solving the system by elimination, add or subtract the left—and right-hand sides of the two
equations until you have an equation in which one of the variables is “eliminated.”
To eliminate the desired variable, multiply the two sides of the two equations by an appropriate
multiplier to make two coefficients into a common multiple. After eliminating the variable, the
resulting linear equation can now be solved.
Example 2.1:
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 4
Solve the system by elimination: { 2
𝑥 −𝑦 = 4
Solution:
To get opposite coefficients of 𝑥 2 , we will multiply 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 4
the second equation by −1. −1(𝑥 2 − 𝑦) = −1(4)
Simplify. 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 = 𝟒
−𝑥 2 + 𝑦 = 4
Add the two equations to eliminate 𝑥 2 . 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 = 𝟒
−𝑥 2 + 𝑦 = 4
𝑦2 + 𝑦 = 0
Solve for 𝑦. 𝑦( 𝑦 + 1 ) = 0
𝑦=0 𝑦+1 =0
𝑦 = −1
Substitute 𝑦 = 0 and 𝑦 = −1 into one of the 𝑦=0 𝑦 = −1
original equations. Then solve for x.
𝒙𝟐 − 𝑦 = 𝟒 𝒙𝟐 − 𝑦 = 𝟒
𝒙𝟐 − 0 = 𝟒 𝒙𝟐 − (−1) = 𝟒
𝒙𝟐 = 𝟒 𝒙𝟐 = 3
𝒙𝟐 = ±2 𝒙𝟐 = ±√3
Write each solution as an ordered pair. The ordered pairs are (-2,0)(2,0).
(√3, −1)(−√3, −1)
Check that each ordered pair is a solution to both Substitute the values of the ordered
original equations. pairs to both original equations.
The solutions are
(-2,0), (2,0), (√𝟑, −𝟏), and (−√𝟑, −𝟏)
