# Lesson 12

Writing and Graphing Systems of Linear Equations

## 12.1: Math Talk: A Possible Mix? (5 minutes)

### Warm-up

This Math Talk refreshes students' knowledge about contraints and the values that meet them. Students are prompted to determine if four given combinations of raisins and walnuts meet a certain cost constraint. The reasoning elicited here prepares them to write and solve systems of linear equations in two variables later.

Many students are likely to approach the task by multiplying pounds of raisins by 4 and pounds of walnuts by 8, and then see if the sum of the two products is 15. Some students may arrive at their conclusions by reasoning and estimating. For example, seeing that a pound of walnuts costs $8, students may simply reason that the first combination is not possible. Or they may reason that the last combination is impossible because at$4 a pound, 3.5 pounds of raisins would cost more than $12, so it is not possible to also get 1 pound of walnuts and pay only$15 total.

To explain their reasoning, students need to be precise in their word choice and use of language (MP6).

### Launch

Display one problem at a time. Give students quiet think time for each problem and ask them to give a signal when they have an answer and a strategy. Keep all problems displayed throughout the talk. Follow with a whole-class discussion.

Representation: Internalize Comprehension. To support working memory, provide students with sticky notes or mini whiteboards.
Supports accessibility for: Memory; Organization

### Student Facing

Diego bought some raisins and walnuts to make trail mix.

Raisins cost $4 a pound and walnuts cost$8 a pound. Diego spent $15 on both ingredients. Decide if each pair of values could be a combination of raisins and walnuts that Diego bought. 4 pounds of raisins and 2 pounds of walnuts 1 pound of raisins and 1.5 pounds of walnuts 2.25 pounds of raisins and 0.75 pounds of walnuts 3.5 pounds of raisins and 1 pound of walnuts ### Student Response For access, consult one of our IM Certified Partners. ### Activity Synthesis Ask students to share their strategies for each problem. Record and display their responses for all to see. To involve more students in the conversation, consider asking: • “Who can restate $$\underline{\hspace{.5in}}$$’s reasoning in a different way?” • “Did anyone have the same strategy but would explain it differently?” • “Did anyone solve the problem in a different way?” • “Does anyone want to add on to $$\underline{\hspace{.5in}}$$’s strategy?” • “Do you agree or disagree? Why?” Conclude by reminding students that the given situation involves a cost constraint. Emphasize that only the third option, 2.25 pounds of raisins and 0.75 pounds of walnuts, satisfy the constraint. One way to check if certain values meet the constraint is by writing an equation and checking if it is true. For example, the equation $$4(2.25) + 8(0.75) = 15$$ is true. If we replace the weights of raisins and walnuts with other pairs of values, the equation would be false. Speaking: MLR8 Discussion Supports. Display sentence frames to support students when they explain their strategy. For example, “First, I _____ because….” or “I noticed _____ so I….” Some students may benefit from the opportunity to rehearse what they will say with a partner before they share with the whole class. Design Principle(s): Optimize output (for explanation) ## 12.2: Trail Mix (20 minutes) ### Activity In this activity, students write and graph equations to represent two constraints in the same situation and use tables and graphs to see possible values that satisfy the constraints. The work prompts them to think about a pair of values that simultaneously meets multiple constraints in the situation, which in turn helps them make sense of the phrase "a solution to both equations." Monitor for these likely strategies for completing the tables, from less precise to more precise: • Guessing and checking • Using the graph (by identifying the point with a given $$x$$- or $$y$$-value and estimating the unknown value, or using technology to get an estimate) • Substituting the given value of one variable into the equation and solving for the other variable Identify students who use each strategy and ask them to share later. ### Launch Arrange students in groups of 2 and provide access to graphing technology. Explain to students that they will now examine the same situation involving two quantities (raisins and walnuts), but there are now two constraints (cost and weight). Give students 3–4 minutes of quiet time to complete the first set of questions about the cost constraint, and then pause for a whole-class discussion. Select previously identified students to share their strategies, in the order listed in the Activity Narrative. If one of the strategies is not mentioned, bring it up. Ask a student who used the graph to complete the table to explain how exactly the graph was used. For example: "How did you use the graph of $$4x+8y=15$$ to find $$y$$ when $$x$$ is 2?" Make sure students recognize that this typically involves hovering over different points on the graph or tracing the graph to get the coordinates. Ask students to proceed with the remainder of the activity. If time permits, pause again after the second set of questions (about the weight constraint) to discuss how the strategies for completing the second table is like or unlike that of completing the first table. Alternatively, give students a minute to confer with their partner before moving on to the last question. Representation: Internalize Comprehension. Provide appropriate reading accommodations and supports to ensure student access to written directions, word problems and other text-based content. Supports accessibility for: Language; Conceptual processing ### Student Facing 1. Here is a situation you saw earlier: Diego bought some raisins and walnuts to make trail mix. Raisins cost$4 a pound and walnuts cost $8 a pound. Diego spent$15 on both ingredients.
1. Write an equation to represent this constraint. Let $$x$$ be the pounds of raisins and $$y$$ be the pounds of walnuts.
2. Use graphing technology to graph the equation.
3. Complete the table with the amount of one ingredient Diego could have bought given the other. Be prepared to explain or show your reasoning.
raisins (pounds) walnuts (pounds)
0
0.25
1.375
1.25
1.75
3
2. Here is a new piece of information: Diego bought a total of 2 pounds of raisins and walnuts combined.
1. Write an equation to represent this new constraint. Let $$x$$ be the pounds of raisins and $$y$$ be the pounds of walnuts.
2. Use graphing technology to graph the equation.
3. Complete the table with the amount of one ingredient Diego could have bought given the other. Be prepared to explain or show your reasoning.
raisins (pounds) walnuts (pounds)
0
0.25
1.375
1.25
1.75
3
3. Diego spent $15 and bought exactly 2 pounds of raisins and walnuts. How many pounds of each did he buy? Explain or show how you know. ### Student Response For access, consult one of our IM Certified Partners. ### Anticipated Misconceptions Some students might think that the values in the second table need to reflect a total cost of$15. Clarify that the table represents only the constraint that Diego bought a total of 2 pounds of raisins and walnuts.

The idea of finding an $$(x,y)$$ pair that satisfies multiple constraints should be familiar from middle school. If students struggle to answer the last question, ask them to study the values in the table. Ask questions such as: "If Diego bought 0.25 pound of raisins, would he meet both the cost and weight requirements?" and "Which combinations of raisins and walnuts would allow him to meet both requirements? How many combinations are there?"

### Activity Synthesis

Invite students to share their response and reasoning for the last question. Display the graphs representing the system (either created by a student or as shown in the Student Response). Discuss with students:

• “Can you find other combinations of raisins and walnuts, besides 0.25 pound and 1.75 pounds, that meet both cost and weight constraints?” (No)
• “How many possible combinations of raisins and walnuts meet both constraints? How do we know?” (One combination, because the graphs intersect only at one point.)

Explain to students that the two equations written to represent the constraints form a system of equations. We use a curly bracket to indicate a system, like this:

\begin{cases}\begin {align} 4x + 8y &= 15\\ x+ \hspace{2mm}y&=2 \end{align} \end{cases}

Highlight that the solution to the system is a pair of values (in this case, pounds of raisins and walnuts) that meet both constraints. This means the pair of values is a solution to both equations. Graphing is an effective way to see the solution to both equations, if one exists.

## 12.3: Meeting Constraints (10 minutes)

### Activity

This activity allows students to apply what they learned about meeting multiple constraints simultaneously and to practice solving simple systems of equations in context. Students are given several problems that can be efficiently solved by writing and solving systems.

As students work, notice the strategies they use. Many students may choose to graph the systems because that strategy was used in the first activity, but some students may choose to solve the systems by guessing and checking, creating tables, or by reasoning algebraically. (In middle school, students learned the substitution method for solving systems of equations. Expect students to have varying degrees of facility with it at this point.)

Making graphing technology available gives students an opportunity to choose appropriate tools strategically (MP5).

### Launch

Keep students in groups of 2 and provide them with continued access to graphing technology.

Tell students that they will now look at several situations that also involve two quantities and two constraints. Their job is to represent each pair of constraints by writing a system of equations and then to find a solution to the system.

Give students 3-4 minutes of quiet time to think about the first question and then a minute to share their thinking with their partner before proceeding with the rest of the activity. Leave a couple of minutes for whole-class discussion. If time is limited, ask each student to solve two of the questions.

### Student Facing

Here are some situations that each relates two quantities and involves two constraints. For each situation, find the pair of values that meet both constraints and explain or show your reasoning.

1. A dining hall had a total of 25 tables—some long rectangular tables and some round ones. Long tables can seat 8 people. Round tables can seat 6 people. On a busy evening, all 190 seats at the tables are occupied.

How many long tables, $$x$$, and how many round tables, $$y$$, are there?

2. A family bought a total of 16 adult and child tickets to a magic show. Adult tickets are \$10.50 each and child tickets are \$7.50 each. The family paid a total of \$141. How many adult tickets, $$a$$, and child tickets, $$c$$, did they buy? 3. At a poster shop, Han paid \$16.80 for 2 large posters and 3 small posters of his favorite band. Kiran paid \14.15 for 1 large poster and 4 small posters of his favorite TV shows. Posters of the same size have the same price. Find the price of a large poster, $$\ell$$, and the price of a small poster, $$s$$. ### Student Response For access, consult one of our IM Certified Partners. ### Student Facing #### Are you ready for more? 1. Make up equations for two lines that intersect at $$(4,1)$$. 2. Make up equations for three lines whose intersection points form a triangle with vertices at $$(-4,0)$$, $$(2,9)$$, and $$(6,5)$$. ### Student Response For access, consult one of our IM Certified Partners. ### Anticipated Misconceptions If students struggle to sort out the information in a problem, suggest that they start by drawing a picture or diagram to help understand the situation. Another idea is to start by creating one or more tables to list possible combinations of values and observe the relationship between the values. For students who need more scaffolding, ask questions such as “What equation can you write to say that the number of tables, long tables and round ones, is 25?” and “What do your variables represent?” Then, ask students to use the same variables to write an equation that says that there are 190 seats. ### Activity Synthesis Select students who use different strategies to share their responses and reasoning. Start with strategies that are less systematic (such as guessing and checking) and move toward those that are more systematic (graphing or using algebra). If possible, display their work for all to see. After each student presents, ask if others solved it the same way. If no students share an algebraic strategy, ask if anyone solved the problems without graphing. If so, invite them to share their rationale. Otherwise, it is not crucial to probe further at this moment. If time permits, ask students to reflect on the strategies that were used. Some of them—graphing and algebraic solving—required writing equations. Others—guessing and checking, or using tables—did not. Discuss questions such as: • “Why might it be helpful to write a pair of equations to solve these problems?” • “Are there situation in which it might not be helpful to write equations?” Representing, Conversing: MLR7 Compare and Connect. Prior to the whole-class discussion, invite students to select one of the situations and to create a visual display of their work. Students should consider what to include on the display so that other students will be able to interpret how they found a pair of values that met both constraints. Students may wish to add notes or details to their displays to help communicate their reasoning. Begin the whole-class discussion by selecting and arranging 2–4 displays for all to see. Give students 1–2 minutes of quiet think time to interpret the displays before inviting the authors to share their strategies as described in the lesson synthesis. Design Principle(s): Cultivate conversation; Maximize meta-awareness Representation: Internalize Comprehension. Use color and annotations to illustrate student thinking. As students describe their strategies, use color and annotations to scribe their thinking on a display of each problem so that it is visible for all students. Call students’ attention to the different ways each variable is presented or visible within each strategy. Supports accessibility for: Visual-spatial processing; Conceptual processing ## Lesson Synthesis ### Lesson Synthesis To help students articulate the big ideas in this lesson and connect them to prior ideas, ask them questions such as: • "How would you explain "a system of equations" to a classmate who is absent today? What would you say if they asked, "What does it mean to solve the system of equations?" • "Here are graphs that represent this system \begin {cases}\begin{align}x+y&=4\\5x+10y&=25 \end{align} \end{cases}." • "Which point or points are solutions to the equation $$x+y=4$$?" (E and C) • "Which are solutions to $$5x+10y=25$$?" (D and C) • Which are solutions to the system?" (C) • "What are the same and what are different about solving a single linear equation in two variables, say $$x+y=4$$, and solving a system of equations, say \begin {cases}\begin{align}x+y&=4\\5x+10y&=25 \end{align} \end{cases}?" (Consider setting up a two-column organizer and recording students' responses accordingly. Here is an example.) Alike: • The solutions are pairs of values. • The solutions are points on the graph of each equation. • We can solve by using the graph. • We can solve by substituting different values for $$x$$ and $$y$$ and seeing which pair of values make the equation true. Different: • To solve a linear equation in two variables is to find pairs of values that make one equation true (or meet one constraint). To solve a system is to find pairs of values that simultaneously make both equations in the system true (or meet both constraints in a situation). • There are many solutions to a linear equations in two variables, but there might only be one (or no) solution to a system of linear equations in two variables. • The solution to a linear equation in two variables could be any point on the graph. The solution to a system must be the intersection of the two graphs. ## 12.4: Cool-down - Fabric Sale (5 minutes) ### Cool-Down For access, consult one of our IM Certified Partners. ## Student Lesson Summary ### Student Facing A costume designer needs some silver and gold thread for the costumes for a school play. She needs a total of 240 yards. At a store that sells thread by the yard, silver thread costs \0.04 a yard and gold thread costs \$0.07 a yard. The designer has \$15 to spend on the thread.

How many of each color should she get if she is buying exactly what is needed and spending all of her budget?

This situation involves two quantities and two constraints—length and cost. Answering the question means finding a pair of values that meets both constraints simultaneously. To do so, we can write two equations and graph them on the same coordinate plane.

Let $$x$$ represents yards of silver thread and $$y$$ yards of gold thread.

• The length constraint: $$x + y = 240$$
• The cost constraint: $$0.04x + 0.07y = 15$$

Every point on the graph of $$x+y=240$$ is a pair of values that meets the length constraint.

Every point on the graph of $$0.04x + 0.07y = 15$$ is a pair of values that meets the cost constraint.

The point where the two graphs intersect gives the pair of values that meets both constraints.

​​​​

That point is $$(60, 180)$$, which represents 60 yards of silver thread and 180 yards of gold thread.

If we substitute 60 for $$x$$ and 180 for $$y$$ in each equation, we find that these values make the equation true. $$(60,180)$$ is a solution to both equations simultaneously.

\begin {align} x+y&=240\\ 60+180&=240\\ 240&=240 \end{align}

\begin{align} 0.04x + 0.07y &= 15\\ 0.04(60) + 0.07(180) &=15\\ 2.40 + 12.60 &=15\\ 15&=15 \end{align}

Two or more equations that represent the constraints in the same situation form a system of equations. A curly bracket is often used to indicate a system.

$$\begin {cases} x + y = 240\\0.04x + 0.07y = 15 \end {cases}$$

The solution to a system of equations is a pair of values that makes all of the equations in the system true. Graphing the equations is one way to find the solution to a system of equations.