Equations and Subject of Formulae ##always clear fractions first, by multiplying each

term in the equation by LCM of denominators of

Solving Equations the fractions.
3 5 1
e.g.3 Solve 8 (4𝑎 − 5) − 12 (3𝑎 − 4) = 6
e.g.1 Solve 8𝑎 − 19 = 5 + 3𝑎 3 5 1
solution: (4𝑎 − 5) − (3𝑎 − 4) = express as follows
8 12 6
solution: 8𝑎 − 19 = 5 + 𝟑𝒂
subtract 3a from both sides 3(4𝑎−5) 5(3𝑎−4) 1
− 12 = 6 LCM of 8; 12; 6, is
8
⟹ 8𝑎 − 19 − 𝟑𝒂 = 5 + 𝟑𝒂 − 𝟑𝒂 24. Multiply every term by 24.
⟹ 8𝑎 − 19 − 3𝑎 = 5 3(4𝑎 − 5) 5(3𝑎 − 4) 1
⟹ 5𝑎 − 𝟏𝟗 = 5 add 19 to both sides 𝟐𝟒 × − 𝟐𝟒 × = 𝟐𝟒 ×
⟹ 5𝑎 − 𝟏𝟗 + 𝟏𝟗 = 5 + 𝟏𝟗 8 12 6
⟹ 5𝑎 = 5 + 19 3 × 3(4𝑎 − 5) − 2 × 5(3𝑎 − 4) = 4 × 1 remove brackets
⟹ 𝟓𝑎 = 24 divide both sides by 5
36𝑎 − 45 − 30𝑎 + 40 = 4 collect like terms
4
⟺ 𝑎 = 45 36𝑎 − 30𝑎 + 40 − 45 = 4
4 6𝑎 − 5 = 4
N.B. 4 5 is the solution or root of the equation.
The above equation was solved by the balance 6𝑎 = 4 + 5
method. 6𝑎 = 9 divide both sides by 6
3 1
𝑎 = 16 = 12
Exercise 1 (revision) Solve the following
equations. 1 1 11 5𝑥+1
e.g.4 Solve 𝑥 + 1 2 𝑥 + 20 =
5 4
1. 4𝑥 = 3𝑥 + 5 2. 2𝑎 = 9 − 𝑎
1
3. 7𝑚 = 8 + 5𝑚 4. 4 𝑑 = 3 1 1 11 5𝑥+1
solution: 𝑥 + 1 2 𝑥 + 20 = express as follows
5 4
5. 5𝑦 + 6 = 21 6. 2𝑛 − 3 = 6
7. 6𝑥 + 5 = 13 + 4𝑥 8. 7𝑒 − 9 = 5 + 3𝑒 𝑥 3𝑥 11 5𝑥+1
9. 8 − ℎ = 5 − 4ℎ + 3 + 2 + 20 = 4 LCM of 5; 2; 20 and 4,
5
10. 2𝑥 + 19 − 5𝑥 = 𝑥 − 5 is 20. Multiply every term by 20.
𝑥 3𝑥 11 5𝑥 + 1
𝟐𝟎 × + 𝟐𝟎 × + 𝟐𝟎 × = 𝟐𝟎 ×
e.g.2 Solve 4(3𝑥 − 1) = 11𝑥 − 3(𝑥 − 4) 5 2 20 4
4 × 𝑥 + 10 × 3𝑥 + 11 = 5 × (5𝑥 + 1) remove brackets
solution: 4(3𝑥 − 1) = 11𝑥 − 3(𝑥 − 4) remove brackets 4𝑥 + 30𝑥 + 11 = 25𝑥 + 5 collect like terms

⟹ 𝟏𝟐𝒙 − 4 = 𝟏𝟏𝒙 − 𝟑𝒙 + 12 collect like terms 34𝑥 − 25𝑥 = 5 − 11

⟹ 𝟏𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏𝟏𝒙 + 𝟑𝒙 = 12 + 4 9𝑥 = −6 divide both sides by 9
6 2
⟹ 𝟒𝑥 = 16 divide both sides by 4 𝑥 = −9 = −3
⟺ 𝑥=4
7𝑥+2 9𝑥−2
Exercise 2 (revision) Solve the following e.g.5 Solve − =2
3 5
equations.
7𝑥+2 9𝑥−2
1. 4𝑎 − (3 − 𝑎) = 17 solution: − 5 =2 LCM of 3 and 5,
3
2. 12𝑎 + (1 − 7𝑎) = 31 is 15. Multiply every term by 15.
3. 3(5𝑐 − 1) = 4(3𝑐 + 2)
4. 5(𝑎 + 2) − 3(3𝑎 − 5) = 1 Remember that the division line acts like a bracket
5. 4(3𝑥 − 1) = 11𝑥 − 3(𝑥 − 4)
6. 3𝑥 − [3(1 + 𝑥) − 2𝑥] = 3 on the numerators.
7𝑥+2 9𝑥−2
equations with fractions (revision) 𝟏𝟓 × 3 − 𝟏𝟓 × 5 = 𝟏𝟓 × 2
5 × (7𝑥 + 2) − 3(9𝑥 − 2) = 30
remove brackets
1
 35𝑥 + 10 − 27𝑥 + 6 = 30 collect like terms originally?
35𝑥 − 27𝑥 = 30 − 10 − 6 8. A trader buys some eggs at 22c each. she finds
8𝑥 = 14 divide both sides by 8 that 6 of them are broken. She sells the rest at 34c
6 3 each and makes a profit of $6,34. How many
𝑥 = 18 = 14
eggs did she buy?
2
Exercise 3 Solve the following equations. 9. One stick is 9cm longer than another. 5 of the
2 7 9𝑦 3 2𝑦 7 1
1. 3𝑦 − 9 = 4 9 2. 10 + 5 = 5 + 10 the longer stick is equal to 2 of the shorter stick.
6𝑎+3 2𝑎−1 2(5𝑒−3) 3(5𝑒−2) 8 Find the length of the longer stick.
3. = 4. − = 15
7 3 3 5 10. A train travels a certain journey and is supposed
4 2 2
5. (2𝑦 − 5) = (2𝑦 − 7) + to arrive at midday. When its average speed is
5 3 15
2 40km/h, it arrives 1p.m. When its average
6. 7(𝑥 + 4) − 2[𝑥 − 3(5 + 𝑥)] = 3 (𝑥 − 6)
speed is 48km/h, it arrives 11a.m. what is the
distance of the journey?
equations from word problems
Homework.1
## where necessary, choose a letter to represent the
1. Give 3 examples of formulae that we use in our
unknown quantity.
everyday lives.
## express the data in terms of the letter.
## form an equation and solve.
N.B. ## A formula is an equation in which letters
## check that the solution agrees with the data of
represent quantities.
the question.
eg area, A, of a rectangle is:
𝐀 = 𝒍 × 𝒘 where l is the length of the rectangle,
Exercise 4
and w the width of the rectangle.
1. 𝒙 represents a certain number. When that number
## In this example A is the subject.
is multiplied by 3 the result is the same as that of
## However if the formula is arranged as
adding 34 to the number. Find x. 𝑨
2. A rectangle is 3 times as long as it is wide. if its = 𝒘 , the subject is now w.
𝒍
perimeter is 56cm, find the width of the
rectangle. Change of subject of formulae
3. Thabo and Rutendo share 147 cents between ## to solve the equation for the letter which is to
them so that Thabo gets 19 cents more than become the subject, is the same as expressing the
Rutendo. Calculate the amount of money each letter in terms of other letters, i.e. to just isolate it.
gets. * think of the formula as an equation.
4. Rufaro has 30 cents and Tom has $1,86. If ** it is not possible to give general rules but
Rufaro saves 5c a day and Tom spends 7c a day, remember the following
after how many days will they have equal i. begin by clearing fractions, brackets and root
amounts? signs.
5. The sum of 6 and one third of n is one more than ii. collect all terms containing the new subject on
the twice n. a. Express this statement in one side of the ‘=’ and the rest on the other side (do
algebraic terms. b. Hence find the value of n. not try to place the subject on the left side if it
6. One farmer has 119 goats and another one has comes more naturally on the right [see No. 2
73. After they each sell the same number of below]).
goats, one is left with 3 times as many as the iii. if more than 1 term contains the subject,
other one. how many goats did each sell? factorise (take it outside the bracket)[see No.
7. A water tank contains 5 times as much water as 8,9,10etc].
another water tank. When 20 litres of water are iv. divide both sides by the bracket then simplify
poured from the first tank into the second tank, only when instructed to do so.
the first contains 3 times as much as the second.
How much water did each tank contain Making x the subject of the formulae (1 to 28) e.g.s

2
 Exercise 5 In each question a formula is given.
After each formula are letters, make the letter(s) the
subject of the formula.
1. 𝑐 = 2𝜋𝑟 r 2. 𝑃 = 𝑎𝑊 + 𝑏 W
𝑁+2
3. 𝑃 = 𝐷 N,D 4. 𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 + 2𝑎𝑠 s,u
𝑊ℎ
5. S = 2𝜋𝑟(𝑟 + ℎ) h 6. 𝐿 = 𝑎(𝑊+𝑃) W
3ℎ 𝐸
7. 𝐷 = √ 2 h 8. 𝐼 = √𝑅2 R
+𝑊 2 𝐿2
9. 𝑆 = 4𝜋𝑟 2 r

homework.2 In each question a formula is given.

After each formula are letters, make the letter(s) the
subject of the formula.
𝑎 𝑏 𝐿 2𝑎
a) 𝑎−𝑥 = 𝑏+𝑥 x b) 𝐸 = 𝑅−𝑟 R
𝑚(𝑣 2 −𝑢2 ) 𝑤𝑑 𝑑
c) 𝐻 = v d) 𝑆 = (ℎ − 2 ) h
2𝑔𝑥 ℎ
𝑤2
e) 𝐻 = (𝑅 2 −𝑟 2)
r
2𝑔
ℎ2 +𝑘 2
f) Given that 𝑇 = 2𝜋√ , express k in terms of
𝑔ℎ
T, h and g, taking 𝜋 2 as 10.

NB * square root or second root symbols are √

3
 2 3 2 5
and √ , whilst that of cube or third root is √ . 11.n1999p1 no.22 a. Given that = 𝑞,
7 𝑥−3𝑝
So the seventh root is √ . express 𝒙 in terms of 𝑝 and 𝑞. [2]
𝟏
* 𝒆 ⁄𝒓 means √𝒆. In √𝒆 if r is an even number
𝒓 𝒓

final answer stage must contain ±before it 12. n2017p1 no.24 b. Solve the equation
e.g.from (1 to 28) e.g.s, i. 0,2𝑛 = 5,
1
ii. 𝑚 + 2 = 8. [1,2]
1 3
No. 17 𝑥 = 𝑎2 ⇒ 𝑥 = ±√𝑎 13. j2018p1 no.14 The formula for converting a
No.24. 𝑥 2 = 𝑎4 ⇒ 𝑥 = ±𝑎2 temperature in degrees centigrade (°C) to a
No.25 𝑥 2 = (8𝑎2 )1 ⇒ 𝑥 = √8𝑎2 temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) is
9C
⇒ 𝑥 = ±𝟐𝒂√𝟐 F = 32 + 5 .
No.28
𝑦2
𝑥 = ±√𝑎2 (1 − 𝑏2 ) a. Find F when C = 30°.
b. Make C the subject of the formula. [1,2]
𝑎
or 𝑥 = ± 𝑏 √𝑏 2 − 𝑦 2
14. n2014p2 no.2 a. Solve the equation
2 1 3
Equations and Subject of Formulae − = . [3]
𝑥 4 5𝑥
-more practice 15. n2015p1 no.7 Solve the equation
2𝑦+5 9
= 4. [3]
1. j2018p1 no.8 a. Solve the equation: 3𝑦−2
1 16. n2015p1 no.8 Make 𝒂 the subject of the
𝑥 − 1 = 7. [1] 1 9
3
equation 𝑎 + 𝑏 = 3. [3]
2. n2014p1 no. 6 a. The product of a number k
and 15 is 105. Find the number k. [1] 17. n2015p2 no.5 a. Make 𝒙 the subject of the
𝑝−2𝑥
formula 𝑦 = 𝑥 . [3]
3. j2014p1 no.9 b. If 𝑦𝑘 = 𝑎𝑥 − 𝑏𝑘, make 𝑘 the
subject of the formula. [2] 18. j2016p1 no.10 Given that 𝑥 = 𝑎𝑞 2 + 𝑏𝑞 2 ,
express 𝒒 in terms of 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑥. [3]
4. n2018p1 no.16 b. Solve the equation
3𝑚 𝑚 1
− 3 = 2 2. [2]
4
5. n2001p2 no.2 b. Solve the equation 𝑚(𝑣 2 −𝑢2 )
19. j2016p1 no.10 Given that ℎ = ,
9 2𝑔𝑥
+ 18 = 0. [2] make 𝒖 the subject of the formula. [3]
𝑎
20. n2016p2 no.2 b. Given that
6. j2016p2 no.2 b. Solve the equation 𝑥 = 𝑦 + √𝑚 + 𝑥 2 ,
12−𝑦
= 5 − 2𝑦. [2] make 𝒎 the subject of the formula. [3]
3
21. j2016p2 no.4 a. Solve the equation
3 1
7. j2016p2 no.2 d. Make 𝒙 the subject of the − = 0. [3]
𝑥+7 𝑥+2
formula 𝑤𝑥 2 = 𝑛. [2] 22. j2017p2 no.4 b. Make 𝒎 the subject of the
𝑒𝑚
8. j2015p1 no.16 b. Given that 𝑓 =
𝑚𝑣−𝑚𝑢
, formula 𝑇 = 2𝜋√ 𝑔 . [3]
𝑡
express 𝒎 in terms of f, 𝑣, 𝑢 and 𝑡. [2] 23. n2017p2 no.2 c. Given that
𝑎𝑥 = √𝑏 2 − 𝑥 2 ,
9. j2015p1 no.22 a. Solve the equation express 𝒙 in terms of 𝑎 and 𝑏. [3]
3 − (2𝑛 − 5) = 32. [2]
24. j2019p2 no.4 c. Given that √𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 = 𝑑,
10. j2019p1 no.7 b. Solve the equation: express 𝑥 in terms of 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑑. [3]
2 3
= 𝑥+2. [2]
𝑥−2

4
25. n2014pR1 no.16 The equation of a straight line
𝑛
is given as 5𝑥 + 4𝑦 − 30 = 0. 33. j2020p2 no.9 b. It is given that 𝑆 = 1−𝑟.
a. Make 𝒚 the subject of the equation.
b. Write down the gradient of the straight line. 1
c. Write down the coordinates of the point i. Find the value of S when 𝑎 = 81 and 𝑟 = 3.
where the line crosses the x-axis.[2,1,1] ii. Make 𝒓 the subject of the formula. [2,3]

26. j2017p1 no.15 It is given that ℎ−4

𝑤 34. n2019p1 no.19 It is given that 𝑔 = √5+ℎ.
𝑝 = 𝜋𝑤 2 (𝑟 − 2 ).
a. Make 𝒓 subject of the formula.
i. Find g when ℎ = 20.
b. Find 𝒓 in terms of 𝜋, when
ii. Express 𝒉 in terms of 𝑔. [2,3]
𝑤 = 6 and 𝑝 = 72. [2,2]
1 35. j1999p2 no.2 b. Given that 2𝑝 = 3√6𝑞 + 5.
27. n2014p1 no.14 Given that 𝑉 = 3 𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ,
a. express 𝒓 in terms of V, 𝜋 and h. i. Find the value of p when 𝑞 = 20.
22 1
b. find 𝒓 if 𝜋 = 7 , 𝑉 = 29 3, and ℎ = 7. [2,2] ii. Express 𝒒 in terms of 𝑝. [2,3]
𝑎+𝑏
36. j2000p2 no.1 a. Given that 𝑦 = 𝑏 .
28. j2001p1 no.20 In a regular polygon of 𝒏
sides, the size of each interior angle 𝑥°, is given i. Calculate the value of y when 𝑎 = 40 and
360
by the formula 𝑥 = 180 − 𝑛 . 𝑏 = 0,1.
a. Make n the subject of the formula. ii. express 𝒃 in terms of 𝑦 and 𝑎. [2,3]
b. Calculate the number of sides of a regular
polygon whose interior angle is 150°. 37. j2015p2 no.5 b. Given that
𝑛
[2,2] 𝑃 = 2 {2𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)},
29. n2001p2 no.2 d. A formula that can be used i. express 𝒂 in terms of d, 𝑛, and 𝑃,
for changing degrees Fahrenheit (F) to degrees ii. find the value of 𝒂 when 𝑛 = 10, 𝑑 = 4,
centigrade (C) is and 𝑃 = 20. [5]
5𝐹−160
C= 9 .
i. Calculate the value of C when F = 95. 38. j2014p2 no.2 a. Solve the equation
ii. Make 𝐹 the subject of this formula. [2,2] i. 0,3𝑥 − 1,7 = 1,8 − 0,4𝑥
1
ii. 3𝑥 = (−64)3 [6]
30. j1999p1 no.18 Solve the equations
3ℎ
a. + 4 = 13,
5
b. 𝑦(𝑦 + 3) − 2(𝑦 + 3) = 0.
[2,2]
0712503939
31. n2018p2 no.3 b. Make 𝑥 the subject of the
formula
𝑎𝑥−𝑝
𝑅 = √𝑄+𝑏𝑥 [4]

32. j2018p2 no.2 c. It is given that

1
𝐻 = 𝑚𝑝 + 2 𝑓 2 𝑝.
i. Calculate the value of H when 𝑚 = 2, 𝑝 = 3
and 𝑓 = −4.
ii. Make 𝒇 the subject of the formula. [2,3]
5