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If it is a linear system, then it could have either 1 solution, no solutions, or infinite solutions. To understand this, think of two lines (consider a plane which is just 2 dimensional - this represents 2 variables and 2 equations, but the idea can be extended to more dimensions).
If the 2 lines intersect at a point, then that point represents a solution. If the lines are parallel, then they never intersect, and there is no solution. If the equations are such that they are just different ways of describing the same line, then they intersect at every point, so there are infinite solutions. If you have more than 2 lines then maybe some of them will intersect, but this is not a solution for the whole system. If all lines intersect at a single point, then that is the single solution for the whole system.
If you have equations that describe something other than a straight line, then it's possible that they may intersect in more than one point.
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Why a system of linear equations cannot have exactly two solutions?
A system of linear equations can only have: no solution, one solution, or infinitely many solutions.
What is the solution to a linear equation?
The solution to a system on linear equations in nunknown variables are ordered n-tuples such that their values satisfy each of the equations in the system. There need not be a solution or there can be more than one solutions.
Translate this word problem as a system of equations and then solve using substitution?
A system of equations is two or more equations that share at least one variable. Once you have determined your equations, solve for one of the variables and substitute in that solution to the other equation.
What are equations with the same solution?
Equations with the same solution are called dependent equations, which are equations that represent the same line; therefore every point on the line of a dependent equation represents a solution. Since there is an infinite number of points on a line, there is an infinite number of simultaneous solutions. For example, 2x + y = 8 4x + 2y = 16 These equations are dependent. Since they represent the same line, all points that satisfy either of the equations are solutions of the system. A system of linear equations is consistent if there is only one solution for the system. A system of linear equations is inconsistent if it does not have any solutions.
Does every pair of linear simultaneous equations have a solution?
Actually not. Two linear equations have either one solution, no solution, or many solutions, all depends on the slope of the equations and their intercepts. If the two lines have different slopes, then there will be only one solution. If they have the same slope and the same intercept, then these two lines are dependent and there will be many solutions (infinite solutions). When the lines have the same slope but they have different intercept, then there will be no point of intersection and hence, they do not have a solution.
