Question

You just looked at the graph of this system of equations. Why will the lines never intersect? y = –x + 5 y = –x – 3

Answer 1

We know that if b1/b2 ≠ c1/c2 of an equation then the lines are inconsistent and they never intersect.

Here, in the given two equations:

-x - y + 5 _____ eq. (i)

-x - y - 3 _____ eq. (ii)

b1/b2 = -y/-y = 1

c1/c2 = 5/-3

Since 1 ≠ 5/-3, the equations are inconsistent and the lines of the equations will never intersect.

Hence, the two equations will not have a solution.