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Solving Linear Equations Guide

The document discusses solving linear equations by isolating the variable on one side of the equation through addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It provides the properties of equality and steps to solve linear equations, along with examples of solving different types of linear equations and checking solutions.

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Isra
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69 views6 pages

Solving Linear Equations Guide

The document discusses solving linear equations by isolating the variable on one side of the equation through addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It provides the properties of equality and steps to solve linear equations, along with examples of solving different types of linear equations and checking solutions.

Uploaded by

Isra
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

SOLVING LINEAR EQUATIONS

Goal: The goal of solving a linear equation is to find the value of the variable that will make the
statement (equation) true.

Method: Perform operations to both sides of the equation in order to isolate the variable.

Addition and Subtraction Properties of Multiplication and Division Properties of


Equality: Equality:
Let a, b, and c represent algebraic expressions. Let a, b, and c represent algebraic expressions.
1. Addition property of equality: 1. Multiplication property of equality:
If a = b, If a = b,
then a + c = b + c then ac =
2. Subtraction property of equality: bc
If a = b, 2. Division property of equality:
If a = b,
then a — c = b — c a b
then = (provided c G 0)
c c

Clearing Fractions or Decimals in an Equation:


When solving an equation with fractions or decimals, there is an option of clearing the fractions or
decimals in order to create a simpler equation involving whole numbers.
1. To clear fractions, multiply both sides of the equation (distributing to all terms) by the LCD of all
the fractions.
2. To clear decimals, multiply both sides of the equation (distributing to all terms) by the lowest
power of 10 that will make all decimals whole numbers.

Steps for Solving a Linear Equation in One Variable:


1. Simplify both sides of the equation.
2. Use the addition or subtraction properties of equality to collect the variable terms on one side of
the equation and the constant terms on the other.
3. Use the multiplication or division properties of equality to make the coefficient of the variable
term equal to 1.
4. Check your answer by substituting your solution into the original equation.
Note: If when solving an equation, the variables are eliminated to reveal a true statement such as,
—13 = —13, then the solution is all real numbers. This type of equation is called an identity. On the
other hand, if the variables are eliminated to reveal a false statement such as, —7 = 3, then there is no
solution. This type of equation is called a contradiction. All other linear equations which have only one
solution are called conditional.

Examples:
A. x + 5 = —2 Check:
—5 —5 (—7) + 5 = —2
x = —7
—2 = —2 (Solution Checks)
B. x — 3 = 7 Check:
+3 +3 10 — 3 = 7
x = 10 7 = 7 (Solution Checks)
C. 3x = 24 Check:
3x 24
= 3(8) = 24
3 3 24 = 24 (Solution Checks)
x=8
D. —7x = 28 Check:
—7x 28 —7(—4) = 28
—7 = —7 28 = 28 (Solution Checks)
x = —4
E. 2 x = —4 Check:
3
2 —6
· 2 x = –4 · 3 (Multiply by the reciprocal) ( ) = —4
3

2 3 1 2 3 1
x = —6 —4 = —4 (Solution Checks)
y
F. =2 Check:
–5 —10
—5 y = 2(—5)
· =2
1 —5 —5
y = —10 2 = 2 (Solution Checks)
Identity Example: Contradiction Example:
G. 2x + 6 = 3(x + 2) — H. 5x — 3 = 4(x + 2) +
x 2x + 6 = 3x + 6 — x 5x — 3 = 4x + 8 +
x x
2x + 6 = 2x + 6 5x — 3 = 5x + 8
—2x — 2x —5x — 5x
6 = 6 True Statement —3 = 8 False Statement
Solution: all real numbers No Solution
I. 10 — 5x = 3(x — 4) — 2(x + 7)
10 — 5x = 3x — 12 — 2x — 14 Check:
10 — 5x = x — 26 10 — 5(6) = 3(6 — 4) — 2(6 + 7)
—x — x 10 — 30 = 3(2) — 2(13)
10 — 6x = —26 —20 = 6 — 26
—10 — 10 —20 = —20 (Solution Checks)
—6x = —36
–6x –36
= –6
–6
x=6
x–2 x–4
J. 5 — 2 = 2 (LCD is 10) K. 0.05x + 0.25 = 0.2
x—2 x—4 100(0.05x + 0.25) = 0.2(100)
10 ( — )= 5x + 25 = 20
2(10)

10 5 2
1 · (x — 2) 10 (x — 4) —25 — 25
— 1 · 2 = 20 5x –5
5 5 = 5
2(x — 2) — 5(x — 4) = 20

2x — 4 — 5x + 20 = 20 x = —1
—3x + 16 = 20 Check:
—16 — 16 0.05(—1) + 0.25 = 0.2
–3x 4
=
0.2 = 0.2 (Solution Checks)
—0.05 + 0.25 = 0.2
–3 –3
x=—4
3
LINEAR EQUATIONS PRACTICE
2 3 w
1. 4x = 4 37. + = 68. —9 x = —45
2. x+6=— 8 4 5 5
7 3 4

3. x—4=7 38. x — = —2x 69. — x = —36


4 9
x x x 1
4. = —9 39. — = 70. 4x — 4 = —40
3
4 6a 4a 71. 9x — 7 = —34
5. 2x + 4 = 8 40. a — + = 26
3 5 7
12 z
72. 8y —6=8
6. 14 = 3 + 2x 41. =
10 25 73. 10 — x = 6
7. 8x — 3 = —19 –2 3c
42. =
6 9 74. —2x — 4x = 1
8. 6—x=9 x+4 3
43. = 75. —9x — 9x = —9
9. —x = —12 7 7
( ) 44. 4x+5 7 76. x —x = 2
10. 3 x — 2 = 6 = 3 5
6 2
11. —3(2x — 8) = —12 45. 6 — x = x 77.
x
— =2
x

4 8 7 9
12. 4(6 + 2x) = 0 x 3x 1 78. x —x = 6
3 9
13. 3x + 2x + 6 = — 46. — =
15 3 4 12 x x
5
14. 4 = —2(x + 3) 79. — =1
47. — x = 3x 8 9
2
5
15. 27 = 46 + 2x — x 2–4y 80. y—4=6
48. 3–5y 9
4 = 3

16. 4x + 6 — 7x + 9 = 18 2x–1 3x 5 81. x + 0.4x = 3.5


49. — =
17. 4 + 3(x + 2) = 10 3
x
4 6 82. 5(x — 3) = 45
50. — = 12
18. —3 + 3x = —2(x + 4 83. —3(x + 7) = 9
1) 51. —x = —12 84. —4(x — 6) = 12
19. 9x — 6 = —3x + 30 52. —2x = —16 85. 8 = 2(x — 5) + 6x
20. —(x + 2) = 2(3x — 6) 53. 2x = —14 86. 2 = 7(x + 4) + 9x
1
21. 2x + 6 = 3x + 9 — 3
22. —5x + 3 = 2x + 54. x = —8 87. 1 = 3(x — 2) + 3 — 2x
7
10
23. 3x — 12x = 24 — 9x 1 88. 3 = 4(x — 2) + 5 — 3x
55. x=2
7
24. 2(x + 4) = —3(x + 5) 89. 3.65 — 7.4x + 1.12 = 21.76
x
56. — = 4
25. 4(2x — 3) + 4 = 8x — 8 2
90. —8x + 3 — 2x = —6x + 3 — 4x
26. 6x + 11 = —(6x + 5) 57. —x = 26
91. 10x + 3 + 10x = 13x — 3 + 7x
27. 2(x + 7) = 6x + 9 — 4x 58. 3x = 15
92. 6 + 3x = 5(x — 1) — 3(x — 2)
28. —5(3 — 4x) = —6 + 20x — 9 59. 4x = —32
1
93. 10 — 5x = 3(x — 4) — 2(x + 7)

29. 4(x — 3) — (x — 5) = 0 60. x=5


3 94. 9.2y — 4.3 = 50.9
30. —2(4 — x) = 6(x + 2) + 61.
1
x=5 95. 0.05z + 0.2 = 0.15z — 10.5
9
3x
4 x 62. —5 x = —15 96. 0.25(60) + 0.10x =
31. = 21
7 3
0.15(60 + x)
x 20
32. = 63. —6 x = —30
4 16 5 97. 0.5(3q + 87) = 1.5q + 43.5
9c 9
33. = 64. 6x = 90 98. 0.4(y + 10) + 0.6y = 2
10 5 5
1 z+1
34. = 65. 1x =4 99. 21.1w + 4.6 = 10.9w + 35.2
4 4 3
100. 0.125x = 0.025(5x + 1)
35. a a–3 66.
7
x = 168
5= 2 6
36. n = 9 n
— 67. 1x =2
10 5 6
LINEAR EQUATIONS PRACTICE ANSWERS

1. x=1 4 51. x = 12 77. x = 63


26. x = —
2. x = —13 3
52. x=8 78. x = 27
3. x = 11 27. No Solution
53. x = —7 79. x = 72
4. x = —27 28. All real numbers
7 54. x = —56 80. y = 18
5. x=2 29. x = 55. x = 14 81. x = 2.5
3
11 20
6. x = 30. x = — 56. x = —8 82. x = 12
2 7
7. x = —2 31. x = 12 57. x = —26 83. x = —10
8. x = —3 58. x=5 84. x=3
32. x = —5
9. x = 12 33. c=2 59. x = —8 85. x = 9
4
10. x = 4 34. z=0 60. x = 15 13
86. x = —
11. x = 6 35. a=5 61. x = 45 8

12. x = —3 62. x=9 87. x = 4


36. n = 30
21 63. x = 25 88. x = 6
13. x = — 37. w=5
5
1 64. x = 75 89. x ≈ —2.3
14. x = —5 38. x = 90. All real numbers
4 65. x = 12
15. x = —19 39. x=3 91. No Solution
66. x = 144
16. x = —1 40. a = 30 92. x = —5
67. x = 12
17. x=0 41. z = 30 93. x = 6
1 68. x = 25
18. x = 42. c = —1 69. x = 81 94. y = 6
5
19. x = 3 43. x = —1 70. x = —9 95. z = 107
20. x =
10 44. x=4 71. x = —3 96. x = 120
7 45. x = 16 72. y = 16 97. All real numbers
21. x = 0 1
46. x = — 73. x=4 98. y = —2
22. x = —1 5
1
5
74. x = — 99. w = 3
23. No Solution 47. x = 6
8 100. No Solution
23
24. x = — 48. y = —1 75. x = 1
2
5
25. All real numbers 49. x = —14 76. x = 15
50. x = —48

Common questions

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A conditional equation has a single specific solution and occurs when simplifying the equation leads to x = a finite number (e.g., x = 5). An identity occurs if simplifying leads to a true statement for all variable values, such as 6 = 6; in this case, the solution is all real numbers .

To clear fractions in a linear equation, multiply both sides of the equation by the least common denominator (LCD) of all the fractions involved. This transformation allows the equation to be rewritten in terms of whole numbers, which simplifies the process of solving the equation by making the operations more straightforward .

The multiplication and division properties of equality are crucial because they allow manipulation of terms to isolate the variable. Multiplying or dividing both sides of the equation by the same non-zero number keeps the equation balanced, simplifying the variable's coefficient to 1, and making it possible to solve for the variable efficiently .

To verify that an equation has no solution, solve the equation until you reach a contradiction, such as a statement that is always false (e.g., 0 = 5). For example, the equation 5x - 3 = 4(x + 2) + x leads to -3 = 8, which is false, indicating no solution exists .

After solving a linear equation, substitute the solution back into the original equation to ensure both sides are equivalent. For instance, if x = 10 was found from the equation 3x = 30, substituting x = 10 back gives 3(10) = 30, confirming the solution is correct .

To clear decimals in a linear equation, multiply all terms by the power of 10 sufficient to eliminate all decimal points. For example, in the equation 0.05x + 0.25 = 0.2, multiplying every term by 100 results in 5x + 25 = 20, which can then be solved like an integer-based equation .

An identity in a linear equation can be recognized when simplifying both sides results in the same expression or a tautology (e.g., 6 = 6). In such cases, the equation holds for all real numbers, and no single solving step is necessary beyond simplification. For instance, 2x + 6 = 3x + 6 - x simplifies to 6 = 6, confirming an identity .

Checking solutions ensures that all operations performed in solving the equation were correct and did not introduce errors. Without verification, there's a risk of accepting incorrect solutions that do not satisfy the original equation, potentially disrupting further applications dependent on these solutions .

To solve a linear equation with a negative coefficient, perform operations to isolate the variable. For example, in -7x = 28, divide both sides by -7, yielding x = -4. This involves the division property of equality, transforming the equation to reveal the solution through operations on negative coefficients .

To solve equations with both variables and constants on each side, first use addition or subtraction to transfer all variable terms to one side and constants to the other. Then, apply multiplication or division to solve for the variable. For example, in the equation 2x + 6 = 3(x + 2) - x, simplification first removes like terms, achieving an identity or condition that allows for solving .

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