Linear equations in one unknown

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An equation of the shape: ax + b = 0, where a and b – the known numbers, x – an

unknown value, is called a linear equation in one unknown. To solve this equation
means to find the numerical value of x , at which this equation becomes an identity.

If a is not equal to zero ( a ≠ 0 ), then a solution ( root ) has the shape:

If a = 0 , then the two cases are possible:

1. b = 0, then 0 · x + 0 = 0 . Here x can be any number ( check this ! ).

2. b ≠ 0, then 0 · x + b = 0 . There is no solution ( check this also ).

expressions: x2 + 2x = x2 – 2x + x – 2 . Transfer all terms to the

left-hand side of the equation. After reducing all similar terms we’ll
receive: 3x + 2 = 0, hence x = – 2 / 3 .

1
Exercises:

1. Find x if:

3x 2
(a) =
2 3
( b ) x − 7 = 13
( c) 9 = 3 − x + 2

2. Find x in the following equations:

(a) 9 x − 5 x + 3 x = 28
( b) − 5 x + 1 = x − 11
( c) x − 3 = 2 x − 14

3. Solve the following equations:

(a) 7( x − 6) + 2( x − 7) = 5( x − 4)
( b) 5 x = 4( x + 1)
( c) 5( x + 1) − 16(4 − x) = 3(3 x − 4) − 11

4. Solve the following equations:

1 1 2x
(a) ( x + 1) = ( x − 1) + 1 +
3 2 3
2x - 1 3 x + 1 2
( b) − =
5 2 5
3 9
( c) −4 = 3−
2x x
x +1 x − 7 x + 4
( d) − =
2 5 3