Linear Equationc

An equation is a statement that says two mathematical expressions are

equal. A linear equation in one variable is an equation with the exponent 1
on the variable. These are also known as first-degree equations, because
the highest exponent on the variable is 1. All linear equations eventually
can be written in the form ax + b = G, where a, b, and G are real numbers
and a ≠ 0. It is assumed that you are familiar with the addition and
multiplication properties of equations.
Addition property of equationc: If a, b, and G are real numbers and a
= b, then a + G = b + G.
 MULTIPLIGATION property of equationc: If a, b, and G are real numbers
and a = b, then AG = BG.

The goal in solving linear equations is to isolate the variable on either side
of the equation by using the addition property of equations and then to use
the multiplication property of equations to change the coefficient of the
variable to 1.

Example 1: Solve for x: 6(2x – 5) = 4(8x + 7).

6(2x – 5) = 4(8x + 7)

12x – 30 = 32x + 28

To isolate the x’s on either side of the equation, you can either add –12x to
both sides or add –32x to both sides.

Multiply each side by (or divide each side by 20).

The solution is This is indicated by placing the solution inside braces to

form a set This set is called the solution set of the equation. You can
check this solution by replacing x with in the original equation. The
solution set is

Example 2: Solve for

This equation will be made simpler to solve by first clearing fraction values.
To do this, find the least common denominator (LCD) for all the
denominators in the equation and multiply both sides of the equation by this
value, using the distributive property.

Don’t forget that the –2 is distributed over both the x and the 4. Simplify
both sides by combining like terms.

You can check this for yourself. The solution set is

Formulac
A formula is an equation that describes a relationship between unknown
values. Many problems are solved easily if the correct formula is known. To
use formulas to solve problems, perform the following steps:
1. Identify the appropriate formula.
2. Replace the variables in the formula with their known values.
3. Solve the formula for the remaining variable(s).
4. Check the solution in the original problem.
5. State the solution.

Example 3: Find the length of a rectangle (see Figure 1-1) if its perimeter
is 48 inches and its width is 8 inches.

Figure 1-1 Perimeter of a rEGTANGLE.

An appropriate formula is p = 2l + 2w, where p represents the perimeter, l

the length, and w the width of the rectangle. Replace each variable with its
known value.

Now, solve for the remaining variable.

Add –16 to both sides.

Multiply each side by (or divide each side by 2).

Check with the original problem.

The length of the rectangle is 16 inches.

Example 4: As shown in Figure 1-2, an area rug is in the shape of a

trapezoid. Its area is 38 square feet, its height is 4 feet, and one of its bases
is 7 feet long. Find the length of the other base.

Figure 1-2 Area of trapezoid.

The check is left to you. The other base has a length of 12 feet.

Many times, a formula needs to be solved for one of its variables in terms
of the other variables. To do this, simply perform the steps for solving
equations as before but, this time, isolate the specified variable.

Example 5: RT = D (Rate × Time = Distance). Solve for R.

Example 6: A = P + PRT (Accumulated interest = Principal + Principal ×

Rate × Time). Solve for T.

Abcolute Value Equationc