Equations and inequalities

Introduction
An equation is formed when two algebraic expressions are set equal to each other by equal sign
“=”.
A linear equation is an equation the highest degree is one – the highest exponent on the variable
is positive one. In linear equations, there is no negative exponent nor rational (radical) powers.

If an equation can be written the form ax +b=0 or ax=b, the equation is linear.

Numerical equations can be true or false but equations with variables cannot be true or false
unless we know the value of the variable. In the table below are examples of equations. The
equations in the columns one and two are numerical and those in column three are variable
equations.

True equation false equation Neither true or false

2+3=5 2+3≠5 x +3=5
5-7=-1 3×4=10 2 x+3=6−x
These equations can be true if and only if we are given the
value of x. the first is true if and only if x = 2 and the other x =
1.

We will be dealing with linear equations in one variable.

In our early stages of our education (Kindergarten), we were introduced to equations in the form
of
1. 3 + =6
2. 3 – 5 =
3. ÷4=2
4. 4 × =8
Where we were to fill in the boxes. The boxes were changed and replaced by letters (variables)
as we progress on our education ladder.
The above equations representing the boxes by letters (variables):
1. 3 + x = 6
 2. 3 – 5 = y
3. z ÷ 4 = 2
4. 4 × t = 8
The boxes or variables serve as a placeholder; they hold the place of an unknown number which
we are required to solve for.
In equation 1, the only number which will result a sum of 6, when added to 3 is 3, (3+3 = 6)
In equation 2, taking away 5 from 3 result is -2 or the difference is – 2, (3 – 5 = - 2)
Similarly, z ÷ 4 = 2, implies that z = 8, the only number which when divided by 4 to produce a
quotient of 2 is 8
Lastly t = 2, the only number which is multiply by 4 to give a product of 8.
Now we are going to solve the equations, following the algebraic and arithmetic algorithms
(procedures or methods)
1. 3+ x=6
Equivalent way of writing this is x=6−3, how to get this?
In dealing with equations, it is assumed that both terms on the opposite sides of ‘=’ are equal.
Equation can be compared to

To maintain the equality, we can do one of the following at a time

i. Add the same number to both sides of ‘=’, y = 4 is equivalent to y +3=4+ 3.
ii. Subtract the same number from both sides of ‘=’, 3 + x = 6 is equivalent to
3+ x – 3=6 – 3.
iii. Divide each term on both sides of ‘=’ by the same number, 4 t+1=9 is
equivalent to ( 4 t ÷ 4)+(1÷ 4)=9 ÷ 4.
1 1
iv. Multiply each term by the same number on both sides of ‘=’, =t− is
2 4
1 1
equivalent to 4 × =4 × t−4 ×
2 4
v. In short, what you do at the right side of ‘=’ do the same to left side.

Now we proceed to solve the problems.

1. 3 + x = 6
3 – 3 + x =6 – 3, subtract 3 from both sides of ‘=’ in order to isolate x on one side of the
equation.
x=6–3
x=3

2. 3 – 5 = y,
y=-2
 3. z ÷ 4 = 2
z
=2
4
z
4×
4()=4 ×2, multiply each term on both sides by 4

z=4 ×2
z=8

4. 4 × t = 8
4t = 8
4t 8
= , divide each term on both sides of ‘=’
4 4
8
t=
4
t=2

Solution

Solution is a number which when substitute for the variable will make the equation true. It is a
set of values of the variable that satisfy the equation. In short, it is an answer to the equation.
Solve – it is the systematic procedure to derive Solution
Solve for a Pronumeral (Variable) is the systematic procedure to isolate the variable on one side
of ‘=’.
Solution is obtained if:
 Coefficient of the variable is one.
 Degree of the variable is also one.
For instance, in example 4, t = 2 is the solution since 4×2=8.
Example 1
Solve for x in 3x – 5 = 5 + x
Solution
We want to isolate the unknown on one side of the equation.
Subtract x from both sides and simplify.
(3x – 5) – x = (5 + x) – x
 3 x – x – 5=5+ x – x
2 x – 5=5
Add 5 to both sides and simplify
(2 x – 5)+5=5+5
2 x – 5+ 5=5+5
2 x=10
Divide each term by 2 (or multiply each term by ½)
1 1
×2 x= ×10
2 2
2 x 10
=
2 2
x=5
Example 2
Find the solution set of 5−2 x=6 x +21
Solution
5−2 x=6 x +21
Change sides (swap sides)
6 x +21=5−2 x
Add 2x to both sides
2 x+(6 x+ 21)=2 x +(5−2 x)
2 x+6 x +21=5+2 x−2 x
8 x +21=5
Add -21 to both sides
−21+(8 x+21)=−21+5
8 x−21+21=5−21
8 x=−16
Multiply each term by 1/8
1 1
× 8 x = ×−16
8 8
 x=−2
Solution set is {x : x=−2 }
Alternative method
5−2 x=6 x +21
Subtract 6x from both sides
5−2 x−6 x=6 x+21−6 x
5−8 x=21
Subtract 5 from both sides
5−8 x−5=21−5
−8 x=16
Divide each term by – 8
−8 x 16
=
−8 −8
x=−2

Equations containing (parenthesis) and other brackets: [square] and{curly}.

First remove all types of brackets or parenthesis using Expansion and Distributive Property.
Example 3.
Solve for y in 3 y−5 ( 3− y )=1
Solution
Remove the parenthesis
3 y−5 ×3−5 ×(− y )=1
3 y−15+5 y =1
Group like terms
3 y +5 y−15=1
8 y−15=1
Add 15 to both sides of ‘=’
8 y−15+ 15=1+15
8 y=16
 y=2
Example 4
Find the truth set of 2 ( 5−z ) +12=3 ( z−2 )
Solution
Expand the brackets (parenthesis)
10−2 z +12=3 z−6
10+12−2 z=3 z−6
22+6=3 z+2 z
28=5 z
28
z=
5
3
z=5
5
3
{
Truth set is x : x=5
5 }
Example 5
Determine the value of m in 5 m−3 ( 2+m )=15 m+35
Solution
5 m−6−3 m=15 m+ 35
5 m−3 m−15 m=35+ 6
−13 m=41
−41
m=
13
2
x=−3
13

Equations containing fractions

Change the fractions (rational coefficients) to integers by multiplying each term by LCM of the
denominators. First change Mixed Fractions to Improper Fractions if there is any.
Example 6
 3 −1
Solve ( 2 y−1 )=
4 2
Solution
3 3 −1
( 2 y ) − ( 1 )=
4 4 2
3 3 −1
y− =
2 4 2
LCM of 2 and 4 is 4, multiply each term by 4

4 ( 32 y )−4( 34 )=−4 ( 12 )
2 ( 3 y )−3=−2 ( 1 )
6 y−3=−2
6 y=−2+ 3
6 y=1
1
y=
6
Example 7
1
Find the truth set of ( 4 n+3 )=7 n+4
4
Solution
1 1
( 4 n ) + ( 3 )=7 n+ 4
4 4
3
n+ =7 n+ 4
4

4 ( n ) +4 ( 34 )=4 ( 7 n )+ 4 ( 4 )
4 n+3=28 n+16
4 n−28n=16−3
−24 n=13
−13
n=
24
 −13
{
Truth set is n :n=
24 }
Example 8
1 1 1
Solve for y in 2 − ( y −2 )=3 y−
3 2 6
Solution
7 1 1
− y +1=3 y−
3 2 6

6 ( 73 )−6 ( 12 y)+6 ( 1 )=6 ( 3 y ) −6 ( 16 )

2 ( 7 )−3 ( y ) +6=18 y−1
14−3 y +6=18 y −1
−3 y−18 y=−1−6−14
−21 y=−21
−21
y=
−21
y=1
Example 8
1 1
Solve for x in ( x +3 )−2 ( x−5 ) =4
3 3
Solution
x 3 13
+ −2 x +10=
3 3 3

3 ( 3x )+3 ( 33 )−3(2 x)+3 ( 10)=3 ( 133 )

x +3−6 x +30=13
−5 x+ 33=13
−5 x=13−33
−5 x=−20
−20
x=
−5
 x=4
Example 9
1 1 2 1
Find the value of x in ( x +4 )−1 =7 − ( x−1 )
3 2 3 2
Solution
x 4 3 23 x 1
+ − = − +
3 3 2 3 2 2

6 ( x3 )+6 ( 43 )−6( 32 )=6 ( 233 )−6 ( x2 )+6 ( 12 )

2 x+ 8−9=46−3 x +3
2 x−1=49−3 x
2 x+3 x=49+1
5 x=50
50
x=
5
x=10
Equations containing algebraic fractions

The LCM is obtained by multiplying all the denominators.

Example 10
x−5 4 5 1
Solve for x in − = −
x 9 3x 5
Solution
Lcm of x, 3x, 5 and 9 is 45x

45 x ( x−5x )−45 x ( 49 )=45 x ( 35x )−45 x ( 15 )

45 ( x−5 )−5 x ( 4 )=15 ( 5 ) −9 x ( 1 )
45 x−425−20 x=75−9 x
25 x−225=75−9 x
25 x+ 9 x=75+225
 34 x=300
300
x=
34
150
x=
17
Solving equations using ‘Cross Multiplication’

Cross Multiplication – is used when we have two fractions. We multiply the numerator of one
a c
fraction by the denominator other fraction. That is = ⟹ ad=bc
b d
Example 11
3 2
Find the solution set of =
x−1 2 x−1
Solution
3 2
=
x−1 2 x−1
3 ( 2 x −1 )=2 ( x −1 )
6 x−3=2 x −2
6 x−2 x=−2+3
4 x=1
1
x=
4
1
{
Solution set is x : x=
4 }
Example 12
3 x −5 2−3 x
Solve for x in =
2 x +3 5−2 x
Solution
( 3 x−5 ) ( 5−2 x )=( 2−3 x ) ( 2 x +3 )
3 x ( 5−2 x )−5 ( 5−2 x ) =2 ( 2 x+ 3 )−3 x ( 2 x+ 3 )

15 x−6 x 2−25+10 x=4 x+ 6−6 x 2−9 x

15 x+10 x−6 x 2−25=4 x−9 x−6 x 2+ 6

 25 x−6 x 2−25=−5 x−6 x 2+6

25 x+ 5 x−6 x2 +6 x 2=6+ 25
30 x=31
31
x=
30
1
x=1
30
1
{
Solution set is x : x=1
30 }
Exercise 1
Find the truth set of the following
3 1 4
a. ( 2 x −2 )= , solution x=
4 2 3
1 1 30
b. y + ( 2− y ) = y−2, solution y=
3 4 11
1 −1
c. 7 n+ 4= ( 4 n+3) solution n=
2 2
1 1 1
d. 2 − ( x−2 )=3 x− solution x=1
3 2 6
1 5
e. 3 x− =6.5+ x solution x=5
6 3
2 3 2
f. = solution m=
9 m+ 6 4 ( 5 m+2 ) 13

Inequalities

We all agree that 5>2 when we reverse the sign, it becomes 5 < 2, which is false. In order for the
statement to maintain its truth value, it should be −5<−2 which is true.
Comparing 5 > 2 to – 5 < - 2, each term of 5 > 2 has been multiplied by -1 or divided by – 1.
This implies that whenever we are solving inequalities the sign reverse when we multiply or
divide by – 1.
Example 11
6x 11
Determine the solution set of −( 3 x−1 ) >
5 5
Solution
Expand the parenthesis, using the Distributive property
6x 11
−3 x +1>
5 5
Multiply each term by the lcm

5 ( 65x )−5 ( 3 x )+ 5 (1 ) >5 ( 115 )

6 x−15 x+ 5>11
Group like terms
−9 x +5>11
Subtract 5 from both sides of =
−9 x +5−5> 11−5
−9 x >6
Divide each term by – 9 and change the > to <
6
x<
−9
2
x←
3
2
Solution set is {x : x← }
3
Example 13
2 2 7
Solve for x in x− ( x−4 ) ≤ 3 x−
3 5 4
Solution
2 2 8 7
x− x + ≤ 3 x −
3 5 5 4

60 ( 23 x )−60 ( 25 x)+60( 85 )≤ 60 ( 3 x) −60( 74 )

20 ( 2 x ) −12 ( 2 x )+12 ( 8 ) ≤180 x−15 ( 7 )
40 x−24 x+ 96 ≤180 x−105
40 x−24 x−180 x ≤−105−96
−164 x ≤−201
 −201
x≥
−164
201
x≥
164
Example 14
2 4 x−2
+ <
3 5−x 5−x
Solution
Multiply each term by the Lcm, Lcm ¿ 3(5 – x )

3 ( 5−x ) ( 23 )+3 ( 5−x )( 5−x

4 x−2
)<3 ( 5−x ) ( 5−x )
( 5−x ) 2+3 ( 4 ) <3 ( x −2 )
10−2 x +12<3 x−6
−2 x+22<3 x−6
−2 x−3 x←6−22
−5 x ←28
−28
x>
−5
3
x >5
5
Example 14
3 y 1+ y
Solve for y in ( 2 y−1 )− ≥−
4 2 2
Solution
3 3 y 1+ y
( 2 y )− ( 1 )− ≥−
4 4 2 2
3 3 y 1+ y
y− − ≥−
2 4 2 2

4 ( 32 y )−4( 34 )−4 ( 2y ) ≥− 4 ( 1+2 y )

2 ( 3 y )−3−2 ( y ) ≥−2 ( 1+ y )
6 y−3−2 y ≥−2−2 y
4 y−3 ≥−2−2 y
4 y +2 y ≥−2+3
6 y ≥1
1
y≥
6
Illustration of inequalities on the Number Line

Example 15
3 6 x−1
Illustrate the solution set of 2 x+ ( 2 x−1 ) ≤ on a number line.
4 3
Solution
3 6 x−1
2 x+ ( 2 x−1 ) ≤
4 3
3 3 6x 1
2 x+ ( 2 x )− ( 1 ) ≤ −
4 4 3 3
3 3 1
2 x+ x− ≤ 2 x−
2 4 3
3 1 3
2 x+ x−2 x ≤− +
2 3 4
3 −4 +9
x≤
2 12
3 5
x≤
2 12

12 ( 32 x )≤ 12( 126 )
6 (3 x )≤ 6
6 (3 x ) 6
≤
6 6
3 x≤1
1
x≤
3
 1
{
Solution set is x : x ≤
3 }
x

0 1 1 2 2
2
3 3

Two Inequality symbols

Example 16
1 1 1 1
Determine the range of values of x for which ( x +2 ) <2 x +1 <6 − ( x−1 )
3 2 6 2
Solution
1 1
The symbol < separates the inequality into three sides,
3 ( )
( x +2 ) , 2 x +1 and¿
2

When this happens, we separate the inequality into two simple inequalities. We take the first two
1 1
( )
expressions separated by ‘<’ ( x +2 ) and 2 x+ 1 then solve for x
3 2
1 1
( x +2 ) <2 x +1
3 2
1 2 3
x + <2 x+
3 3 2
1 3 2
x−2 x< −
3 2 3

6 ( 13 x)−6 (2 x ) <6( 32 )−6 ( 23 )

2 x−12 x <9−4
−10 x< 5
5
x>
−10
−1
x>
2
1 1 1
Next we take the last two expressions separated by ‘<’, 2 x+1 and 6 − ( x−1 ) and solve for x
2 6 2
1 1 1
2 x+1 <6 − ( x−1 )
2 6 2
 3 37 1 1
2 x+ < − x +
2 6 2 2
1 37 1 3
2 x+ x < − −
2 6 2 2

6 ( 2 x ) +6 ( 12 x)<6 ( 376 )−6 ( 12 )−6 ( 32 )

12 x+3 x <37−3−9
15 x< 25
25
x<
15
5
x<
3
2
x <1
3
−1 2
Now we combine the two solutions, x > and x <1 , we put x in middle of the symbols > and
2 3
< such that it will maintain its truth value
−1 −1 −1 −1
< x is the same as x > , therefore instead of x > , we use < x to get
2 2 2 2
−1 2
< x <1
2 3
1 2
{
The solution is x :− < x <1
2 3 }

Example 17
1 1 3
Find the truth set of x− ≤ ( 5 x−2 ) ≤ + x
2 3 4
Solution
Take the first part and solve for x
1 1
x− ≤ ( 5 x−2 )
2 3
 1 5x 2
x− ≤ −
2 3 3

6 x−6 ( 12 )≤ 6( 53x )−6 ( 32 )

6 x−3 ≤ 2 ( 5 x )−2 ( 2 )
6 x−3 ≤ 10 x−4
6 x−10 x ≤−4 +3
−4 x ≤−1
−1
x≥
−4
1
x≥
4
Take the second part and solve
1 3
( 5 x−2 ) ≤ + x
3 4
5x 2 1
− ≤ +x
3 3 4

12 ( 53x )−12( 23 ) ≤12( 34 )+12 ( x )

4 ( 5 x )−6 ( 2 ) ≤ 3 ( 3 ) +12 x
20 x−12 ≤9+ 12 x
20 x−12 x ≤ 9+12
8 x ≤ 21
21
x≤
8
5
x≤2
8
1 5
{
The truth set is x : ≤ x ≤ 2
4 8 }
Example 18
2 x−3 x+1 3 x−2
Illustrate the solution set of ≤ ≤ on the number line.
4 x−1 2 x +1 6 x −2
Solution
2 x−3 x+1
≤
4 x−1 2 x +1
( 2 x−3 ) ( 2 x +1 ) ≤ ( x +1 )( 4 x−1 )
2 x ( 2 x+1 ) −3 ( 2 x +1 ) ≤ x ( 4 x−1 ) + ( 4 x−1 )

4 x2 +2 x−6 x−3 ≤ 4 x 2−x +4 x−1

4 x2 −4 x−3 ≤ 4 x2 +3 x−1

4 x2 −4 x 2−4 x−3 x ≤−1+ 3

−7 x ≤ 2
2
x ≥−
7
x +1 3 x−2
≤
2 x +1 6 x−2
( x +1 )( 6 x−2 ) ≤ ( 2 x +1 ) (3 x−2 )
x ( 6 x−2 )+ ( 6 x −2 ) ≤ 2 x ( 3 x−2 ) + ( 3 x−2 )

6 x 2−2 x+6 x−2≤ 6 x 2−4 x +3 x−2

6 x 2+ 4 x−2 ≤ 6 x2 −x−2

6 x 2−6 x 2+ 4 x + x ≤−2+2
5 x≤0
0
x≤
5
x≤0

2
{
Solution set is x :− ≤ x ≤ 0
7 }
x

2
-1 -7 0

Word Problems

Half of a number added to a fifth of two less than the number is equal to two-thirds the number.
What is the number?
x x −2 2 x
+ =
2 5 3