Skip to ContentGo to accessibility pageKeyboard shortcuts menu
OpenStax Logo
Algebra 1

1.4.3 Finding the Solution to an Equation in Two Variables

Algebra 11.4.3 Finding the Solution to an Equation in Two Variables

Search for key terms or text.

Activity

Use the following scenario for 1 - 3:

One gram of protein contains 4 calories. One gram of fat contains 9 calories. A snack has 60 calories from p p grams of protein and f f grams of fat.

1.

Determine if 5 grams of protein and 2 grams of fat could be the number of grams of protein and fat in the snack. Explain your reasoning.

2.

Determine if 10.5 grams of protein and 2 grams of fat could be the number of grams of protein and fat in the snack. Explain your reasoning.

3.

Determine if 8 grams of protein and 4 grams of fat could be the number of grams of protein and fat in the snack. Explain your reasoning.

4.

If there are 6 grams of fat in the snack, how many grams of protein are there? Be prepared to show your reasoning.

5.

In this situation, what does a solution to the equation 4 p + 9 f = 60 4 p + 9 f = 60 tell us? Give an example of a solution.

Video: Working Through the Equation

Watch the following video to learn more about how to determine a solution to this particular equation:  4 p + 9 f = 60 4 p + 9 f = 60 .

Self Check

Which of the following is a solution ( x , y ) to 2 x + 3 y = 7 ?
  1. ( 2 , 4 )
  2. ( 4 , 1 )
  3. ( 1 , 2 )
  4. ( 2 , 1 )

Additional Resources

Solutions to Equations in Two Variables

An equation that contains two unknown quantities or two quantities that vary is called an equation in two variables.

Drawing of equations of two variables. f equals nine fifths c plus 32 to convert temperature from degrees fahrenheit F to degrees celsisus C and a formula i equals two point five four c and coverts a measure from cenimenters c to inches i.

A solution to such an equation is a pair of numbers that makes the equation true.

Example

Suppose Tyler spends $45 on T-shirts and socks. A T-shirt costs $10, and a pair of socks costs $2.50. If t t represents the number of T-shirts and p p represents the number of pairs of socks that Tyler buys, we can represent this situation with the equation:

10 t + 2.50 p = 45 10 t + 2.50 p = 45

This is an equation in two variables. More than one pair of values for t t and p p make the equation true.

Which pair of values makes the equation 10 t + 2.50 p = 45 10 t + 2.50 p = 45 true?

1.

t = 3 t = 3 and p = 6 p = 6

2.

t = 4 t = 4 and p = 2 p = 2

3.

t = 1 t = 1 and p = 10 p = 10

In this situation, one constraint is that the combined cost of shirts and socks must equal $45.

Solutions to the equations are pairs of t t and p p values that satisfy this constraint, such as in questions 1 - 2.

Combinations such as t = 1 t = 1 and p = 10 p = 10 , as in question 3, are not solutions because they don't meet the constraint. When these pairs of values are substituted into the equation, they result in statements that are false.

Try it

Try It: Solutions to Equations in Two Variables

Is a = 3 a = 3 and  b = 5 b = 5 a solution to 6 a 3 b = 3 6 a 3 b = 3 ?

Citation/Attribution

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Attribution information
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:

    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/algebra-1/pages/about-this-course

  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a digital format, then you must include on every digital page view the following attribution:

    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/algebra-1/pages/about-this-course

Citation information

© May 21, 2025 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.