Sure! A classic example of a linear problem is finding the intersection of two lines in a two-dimensional space.
Example: Finding the intersection of two lines
Consider the following two linear equations:
- \( y = 2x + 1 \)
- \( y = -x + 4 \)
To find the intersection of these two lines, we need to solve for \( x \) and \( y \) where both equations are equal:
Step 1: Set the equations equal to each other
Since both equations equal \( y \), we can set them equal to each other:
\[ 2x + 1 = -x + 4 \]
Step 2: Solve for \( x \)
Now, we can solve for \( x \):
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Add \( x \) to both sides: \[ 2x + x + 1 = 4 \] Simplifying gives: \[ 3x + 1 = 4 \]
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Subtract 1 from both sides: \[ 3x = 3 \]
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Divide by 3: \[ x = 1 \]
Step 3: Substitute back to find \( y \)
Now, substitute \( x = 1 \) back into one of the original equations to find \( y \). Using the first equation:
\[ y = 2(1) + 1 = 2 + 1 = 3 \]
Conclusion
The intersection of the two lines occurs at the point \( (1, 3) \).
This is a straightforward example of solving a linear problem involving two equations.