Introduction to Mathematics for Engineers

Formulae

Equations & Transposition of

EQUATIONS AND TRANSPOSITION OF FORMULAE

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1.

Introduction

Most of the Mathematics of Engineering/Science consists of relationships between various physical

quantities. These are expressed as Mathematical equations.
Examples
(i)

Area of a circle, radius r

A=
(ii)

r2

Coulombs Law. The force of attraction between two

charged particles is

F=
where

k Q1Q2
r2

Q1, Q2 are the charges, r is their distance apart, k is

a physical constant.

(iii)

Rate of heat transfer Q through a slab of heat conducting

material, thickness is

Q=

k ( T1

T0 )

where T1 T0 the is temperature difference, k is the thermal

conductivity.

Equations such as the above which represent frequently used results are known as formulae.
When using a formula connecting physical quantitites it is of course important to use a consistent
set of physical units, but in these notes we are solely interested in the Mathematical rules for
manipulating equations.
2. Equations
There is only one rule for changing the appearance of an equation.
Whatever you do to one side of the equation you must do
the same to the other side

Introduction to Mathematics for Engineers

Formulae

Equations & Transposition of

In the following L and R represent whatever may appear on the left and right sides of an equation
respectively amd k represents any numerical or algebraic quantity.
If
then

L=R
(i)

R= L
Example
If x + y = z
then
z= x+y
The equation may be written either way.

Rather than write 2 = x we would write x = 2 . Rather than write

we would write

(ii)

0 = x2 + 2 x + 3

x2 + 2 x + 3 = 0 .

L+k = R+k
Example

If
then

z = x2

z + z = x2 + z
y = x2 + z

i.e.

If you move a negative quantity from one side to

the other it becomes positive.
(iii)

L k=R

Example
If
then
i.e.

y + z = x2
y+z

z = x2

y = x2

If you move a positive quantity from one side to

the other it becomes negative.

(iv)

kL = kR
Examples
(a)

If

y
= x2 + 1
z

Introduction to Mathematics for Engineers

Formulae

then

Equations & Transposition of

i.e.

(b)

y
= z ( x 2 + 1)
z
y = z ( x 2 + 1)

y
+ 1 = x2
z

If

y
+ 1 = zx 2
z

y + z = zx 2
This is sometimes called multiplying through by z.

(v)

L R
=
k k
Example
If
then

z( x + y ) = 4
z( x + y ) 4
=
z
z
4
x+y=
z

This is called dividing through by z.

(vii)

( L) p = ( R) p

where

p is a rational number

Examples
(i)

x+y =z

If
then

x+y

)2 = z 2

x + y = z2
(ii)

If

( x + y) 2 = z

then

( x + y)2

i.e.

= z

x+y= z

The following set of examples are concerned with solving equations by making use of the above
rules.
Examples

Introduction to Mathematics for Engineers

Formulae

(i)

(ii)

x 2=4
x =4+2 = 6

(Add 2 to each side)

x+2 =4
x=4 2=2

(Subtract 2 from each side)

x
+1= 4
2
x
=3
2
x = 23= 6

(iii)

4 + 4 x = 16
4 x = 12
12
x=
+3
4

(iv)

4
x

(v)

Equations & Transposition of

(Multiply through by 2)

(Divide through by 2)

1=5
4
=6
x
x 1
=
4 6
4 2
x= =
6 3

(Invert both sides)

All the above are examples of LINEAR EQUATIONS . Any equation which can be written in
the form ax + b = 0 where a and b are real numbers is called a LINEAR EQUATION . The
value of x which satisfies the equation is called the root of the equation . Linear equations
have one root x =

(vi)

b
.
a

x2 + 9 = 5
x 2 + 9 = 25
x 2 = 16
x = 4

(vii)

x 2
=
2 x

x2
=2
2
x2 = 4

(Square both sides)

(Square root of both sides)

(Multiply through by x)
(Multiply through by 2)

x = 2

Introduction to Mathematics for Engineers

Formulae

(ix)

(x)

Equations & Transposition of

3
+x=4
x
3 + x2 = 4 x
x2 4 x + 3 = 0
( x 3)( x 1) = 0
x = 3 or x = 1

(Multiply through by x )

3x 2 = x

x BUT DONT

It is very tempting to divide through by

3x x = 0
x(3 x 1) = 0
2

x=0

or

x is a common factor
x=

1
3

If we had divided through by x the root at x = 0 would have been

missed .
Examples (vi)-(x) are examples of QUADRATIC EQUATIONS . These are covered in detail in
the notes FACTORISATION AND QUADRATIC EQUATIONS . As we saw they may have two
real roots , one repeated root , or no real roots .
(xi)

x3 2 x 2 = 3 x

x BUT DONT

It is very tempting to divide through by

x 2 x 3x = 0
x is a common factor
2
x( x 2 x 3) = 0
The expression in brackets factorises
x( x 3)( x + 1) = 0
x = 0 or x = 3 or x = 1
3

Example (xi) is a CUBIC EQUATION . The general form is ax + bx + cx + d = 0 where

a, b, c and d real numbers . A cubic equation may have three real roots or only one real
root.There is a formula for solving cubic equations but it is very complicated and not much
used instead we tend to use computational methods which will be covered later in your
course.
3

Tutorial 1
In exercises 1-10 find the values of

x satisfying the equations.

1.

x+6=5

2.

2x + 7 = 9

3.

x
x
+1=
5
10

4.

x 8
=
2 x

5.

x +1
=2
x+2

6.

x +1 x + 3
=
x+2 x 6

7.

1
3
=
2x 3 x + 5

8.

x +1=

9.

x2 + 1 = 2

10.

( x + 3)( x 2) + 6
x

( x + 1) 2 + ( x + 1)

1
2

=0

Introduction to Mathematics for Engineers

Formulae

3
3
= x+
2x
2

11.

Equations & Transposition of

1
x

x3 + 1 = 3x + 1

12.

Click here to go the solutions for Tutorial 1. You can use the Explorer back button to return here.
3. Transposition of Formulae
An important application of the above rules above rules occurs in what is called transposition of
formulae.
We all know the formula for the area of a circle : A = r
Hence it is easy to calculate the area of a circle of radius 0.5m.
2

A = (0.5)2 = 0.7854m 2
2

But what if we are told that the area of a circle is 2 m and we need to know the radius ?
We need to rewrite the formula as

r=

. This is called transposing the formula

to make r the subject of the formula.

It is now quite easy to calculate the required radius :

r=

= 0.7979m

In the following examples the aim is to make the given variable the subject of the formula .

F=

1.
Rewrite as

3.
First

(r )

r 2 F = kQ1Q2 .Then r 2 =

kQ1Q2
F

and finally

r=

kQ1Q2
.
F

k (T1 T0 )
(T1 )
l
Ql
Ql
T0 ) then
= T1 T0 and finally T1 = T0 +
k
k
Q=

2.
First

kQ1Q2
r2

Ql = k (T1

a = b2 + c 2

(b)

a 2 = b 2 + c 2 then b 2 = a 2 c 2

and finally

b = a2 c2

Let us look at this in more detail . In the given formula the following operations are carried out on
the variable b :(i)
Square it
(ii)
(iii)

Add c
Take square root

To make b the subject we need to retrace these steps . So we need to carry out the inverse
operations in reverse order on the subject of the formula as given which is a .
Inverse of (iii) gives a
Inverse of (ii) gives a

Inverse of (i) gives

a
This technique is used in the next example .

c2
2

c2

Introduction to Mathematics for Engineers

Formulae

3.
Operations on R :-

Equations & Transposition of

S =4 r

R2 + r 2
2

(i)

Square

( R)

Add r
Divide by 2
Square root
Multiply by 4 r

(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)

Inverse operations in reverse order (to be performed on S ) .

(i)

Divide by 4 r

(ii)

Square

(iii)

Multiply by 2

(iv)

Subtract

(v)

Gives

4 r
S2
Gives
16 2 r 2
S2
Gives
8 2r 2
S2
Gives
r2
2 2
8 r

r2

Square root

Therefore the transposed formula is

R=

Gives

S2
8 2r 2

S2
8 2r 2

r2

r2

It needs to be emphasised that the method shown above is of limited application as shown
by the next example .

R=

4.

R1 R2
R1 + R2

( R1 )

Before applying the above we would have to rewrite the formula so that the required subject
variable only appeared once. In this case it is quicker and easier to proceed as follows:
First

RR1 + RR2 = R1R2

then

RR2 = R1 R2

q = A1

5.

RR1 = R1 ( R2
2 gh

A1 2
A2

R) finally R1 =

RR2
R2 R

( A2 )

This is a difficult problem . We will do it two ways .

First :Divide both sides by

A1 .

q
=
A1

2 gh
A1 2
A2

Introduction to Mathematics for Engineers

Formulae

Equations & Transposition of

q2

Square both sides

A12
A12

Invert both sides

Multiply by

q2
2 ghA12

2gh

q2
2 ghA12
q2

q2
q2
2 ghA12 + q 2

A1 2
A2

2 gh
A1
A2

A1
=
A2
=

q 2 A12
2 ghA12 + q 2

1
2

A2 2
A12

= A2 2
qA1

A2 =

And finally

A1 2
A2

A1
+1=
A2

2 ghA12 + q 2

Invert both sides

2 gh

2 ghA12 + q 2

A2 :- (i) Invert .(Raise to power 1 ) , (ii) A1 , (iii) Square,

Invert , (vi)
2 gh , (vii) Square root (viii) A1 .

Second way :- Operations on

1 , (v)

(iv)

q we obtain (i)

Inverse in reverse operating on

q
A1

(ii)

q2
2 ghA1
q2
(iii)
(iv)
2
2
q2
A1
2 ghA1

(v)

2 ghA1
+ 1 (vi)
q2

Thus

A2 =

2 ghA1
+1
q2

A1
2

2 ghA1
+1
q2

(vii)

A1q
2

2 ghA1 + q 2

2 ghA1
+1
q2
A1

(viii)

A1
2

2 ghA1
+1
q2

as before .

Introduction to Mathematics for Engineers

Formulae

Equations & Transposition of

Tutorial 2
1.

Given that a sphere has volume 10m find its radius.

2.

Distance 5m

Time

Acceleration

t secs

The diagram illustrates a vehicle

a ms-1

P which starts from 0 with initial velocity u ms 1 , and

a ms 1 .

constant acceleration

The various quantities are related by the formula

2(ut s )
t2
2
1
Given that a = 2ms , u = 10ms
find s, the distance travelled, after 6 seconds.
a=

3.

In each of the following transpose the given formula to make the symbol in brackets the
subject of the formula.

R1 R2
R1 + R2

(a)

R=

(b)

d = 2 h ( 2r

(c)

V =

(d)

v=

(e)

q = A1

( R1 )

h)

(r )

h ( 3R 2 + h 2 )
6
IR
E IR

( R)
(I )

2 gh
A1
A2

( A1 )

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