An SAT Math micro-topic under Solving systems of linear equations (Algebra). Free to read — no account needed.
When two equations turn out to be the same line, they share every point, which means infinitely many solutions. The clue is that one equation is a multiple of the other. Multiplying x+y=2 by 2 gives 2x+2y=4, so those two are really one line.
On a graph, the two lines must have the same slope and the same y-intercept. Same slope but different intercepts gives parallel lines and no solution. Same slope and same intercept means the lines lie exactly on top of each other.
You can also check the numbers directly. For ax+by=c and px+qy=r, there are infinitely many solutions when pa=qb=rc. That means every part of one equation is the same multiple of the other.
When you try to solve such a system, the variables all cancel and you get a true statement like 0=0. That is the algebra telling you the two equations are the same line. A false statement like 0=4 would instead mean no solution.
Worked examples
How many solutions does the system 2x+y=5 and 4x+2y=10 have? The second equation is the first multiplied by 2, so they are the same line. So the system has infinitely many solutions.
A system has infinitely many solutions, and one equation is 4x−6y=12. Which could be the other: 2x−3y=6 or 2x−3y=10? Dividing 4x−6y=12 by 2 gives 2x−3y=6, the same line. So 2x−3y=6 works; 2x−3y=10 is a parallel line with no solution.
For ax−3a+4=6x+2+b to have infinitely many solutions, what must be true? Both sides must be identical, so the x coefficients match and the constants match. That gives a=6 and −3a+4=2+b.
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