Systems of Equations: Consistency and Dependency
A system of equations is consistent if it has at least one solution. A system is inconsistent if it
has no solution.
Two Variables
In a system of two equations in two variables, the equations are dependent if one equation is a
multiple of the other. Dependent systems have an infinite number of solutions – every point is a
solution.
Three Variables
In a system of three equations in three variables, if the system reduces to two equations in two
variables where one equation is a multiple of the other, the system is dependent.
Dependent systems produce the true equation 0 = 0, and are always consistent.
If the equations in a system are not dependent, then they are independent.
If a system is inconsistent, solving it produces a false equation, such as 0 = 5.
Systems of equations can be represented (and solved) graphically: equations with two variables,
both to the power of 1, would be graphed as straight lines; equations with three variables, all to
the power of 1, would be graphed as 3-dimensional planes.
Two Variables
Type of System Example Nature of Solutions Graphic
Infinite number of One line “on top of”
Dependent, x + y=2
solutions – they are another
Consistent 3x + 3y = 6
the same line!
clue → 0 = 0
x + 2y = 5 Intersection
Unique solution – the
Independent, -2x + y = 15
lines intersect at one
Consistent
point
x = -5 y=5
2x + 5y = 27
Independent, No solutions – the
6x + 15y = 39
Inconsistent lines are parallel
clue → 0 = -42
Department of Mathematics, Sinclair Community College, Dayton, OH 1
Evaluating a 2-Variable System using the y = mx + b Forms of the Equations
Put the equations into y = mx + b form and examine the slopes and the intercepts:
1. If the slopes are the same and the y-intercepts are the same, then the lines are the same –
the system is dependent and consistent.
x+y=2 → y = -x + 2
3x + 3y = 6 → 3y = -3x + 6 → y = -x + 2
The slope is –1 and the y-intercept is 2 in both equations – they are the same line
→ the system is dependent and consistent (infinite number of solutions).
2. If the slopes are the same but the y-intercepts are different, then the lines are parallel (but
not the same line) and will not intersect – the system is independent and inconsistent.
2 27
2x + 5y = 27 → y= − x +
5 5
2 39
6x + 15y = 39 → y= − x +
5 15
2
The slope is − in both equations but the y-intercepts are different – these lines are
5
parallel (same slope) but different and will not intersect. The system is independent and
inconsistent (no solution).
3. If the slopes are different, it doesn’t matter what the y-intercepts are – the lines will always
intersect at some point. The system is independent and consistent.
2 5
x + 2y = 5 → y= − x +
5 2
-2x + y = 15 → y = 2x + 15
The slopes are different in the two equations – the lines will intersect. The system is
independent and consistent (one solution).
Department of Mathematics, Sinclair Community College, Dayton, OH 2
Three Variables
Type of
Example Nature of Solutions Graphic
System
2x + y + z = 3 [1]
x - 2y – z = 1 [2] Intersect along same
3x + 4y + 3z = 5 [3] Infinite number of line
Dependent, solutions – the planes
Consistent [1] + [2] → 3x – y = 4 intersect along a
[2]*3+[3]→ 6x – 2y = 8 common line
clue → 0 = 0
Intersect at same point
4x – 2y – 3z = 5
-8x – y + z = -5
Unique solution – the
Independent, 2x + y + 2z = 5
Consistent
x = 3/2 y = -4 z=3
planes intersect at one
point .
No solution – the
planes are either all
y + 3z = 4 [1]
parallel to each other
-x – y +2z = 0 [2]
or they intersect two
x + 2y + z = 1 [3]
Independent, at a time with no point
Inconsistent common to all three
[2] + [3] → y + 3z = 1 [4]
[1]*(-1)+[4]→ -y - 3z = -4
clue → 0 = -3
Department of Mathematics, Sinclair Community College, Dayton, OH 3
