Solving Linear

Equations

Prepared by:
Ms. Jiecel Maedeen Aquino Santos
 Linear Equations in One
Unknown
Objectives:
1.Know what a linear equation is.
2.Know if a value is a solution or not.
3.Use the addition and subtraction properties of equalities to solve linear
equations
4. Use the multiplication and division properties of equalities to solve
linear
equations.
5. Solve an equation using more than one property.
6.Know how to express consecutive integers in terms of x, if the first integer is x.
7.Know how to express even consecutive integers in terms of x, if the first even
integer is x.
8.Know how to express odd consecutive integers in terms of x, if the first odd
integer is x.
9. Solve linear equations by using a combination of simplifying and using
various
properties of equality.
The following is an example of a linear equation:
3x - 4 = 5
 A sentence which contains one or more variables such that its
truth (being true or false) can not be determined is called an
open sentence.

Example : x 7 15
 A variable is a symbol that can be replaced with an arbitrary
number.
From the example, X is a variable.

 The subtitute for a variable which makes an open sentence a

true sentence is called a solution.
From the example, if x is replaced with 8, the sentence will be true.

Thus, its solution is x 8

A linear equation in one variable is an
equation that can be written in the form

ax + b = 0
Where a 0
F
o
r
Solving Equations by Using Addition and Subtraction

Objectives:

• * To solve linear equations using addition

and subtraction
• * To use linear equations to solve word
problems involving real-world situations

• Your goal is to isolate the variable and keep sides

balanced
• Watch integer signs and remember the rules
• Fraction and decimal rules still apply
To solve equations like x 3 6 , you can use mental
math.
Ask yourself, “What number minus 3 is equivalent to 6?”
x
This strategy can work for easier problems, but we need a
better plan so we can solve more difficult problems.
In this strategy, we balance the sides of the equation as we
solve for the variable.
First, we must “undo” the minus 3. The inverse
x 3 6 (opposite) of subtracting 3 is
3.
x 3 3 6 3 But we have to be fair! If we are going to add 3
to one side of the equation, we MUST add 3 to
x 9 the other side to BALANCE the equation.
• RULE: Subtract the same amount
from each side of the equation to keep
the equation balanced

• Algebraic symbols: for any numbers

a, b, and c, if a=b, then a-c= b-c
 Solving Linear Equations Using
Subtraction The process for solving equations using
subtraction is very similar to solving equations using
addition.
How do you undo First,
addition?
we must “undo” the plus 2. The
Example: x 2 5 inverse
x 2 -2 5 -2 (opposite)
But we haveoftoadding
be fair!2Ifiswe are going to subtract
2.
2 from one side of the equation, we MUST
subtract 2 from the other side to BALANCE the
x equation.

Ex2) x 15 10
3
Ex1) x 7 9
• Solve the equation

If you put -1/4 back in for y in the original problem you will
see that -1/4 is the solution to our problem.
In some problems, you will see a negative sign in front
of the variable you are solving for.
Example: x 12 What does this mean?

x
12 The negative sign means “the opposite of x,”
x = -12 meaning the opposite sign, positive or
negative.
To solve, we change the sign of the other side of the equation.
4 2
-x = -5 x 2 7 z 6 ( x) 7
3 5
• Solve the equation

If you put 15 back in for x in the original problem

you
will see that 15 is the solution to our problem.
• Solve the equation

If you put -3.6 back in for a in the original problem you

will see that -3.6 is the solution to our problem.
• Focus: How can equations be used to find
how long it takes light to reach Earth?
• What is the unknown quantity in the
equation given in the example?
• What variable represents the unknown
quantity in the equation?
• What do you need to accomplish to solve
this equation?
 To solve multiplication and division equations

• REMEMBER: Your goal is to isolate

the
variable!
• Multiplication Property: Multiply each
side of the equation by the same
number to keep the equation balanced
• Division Property: Divide both sides of
the equation by the same number to
keep the equation balanced
 Solving Equations Using Multiplication
Objectives: To solve linear equations using multiplication and division and
to use linear equations to solve word problems involving real-world
situations
To solve equations like 4x 2 , you will need to use
multiplication.
x In this problem, the x is being divided by 4.
2 To solve
4 for x, we will need to do the inverse of
x dividing by 4, which is multiplying by 4.
4 42 **Don’t forget that you will need to do this to
4 BOTH sides of the equation to keep it balanced!
Ex) a a
x 8 10 10
2 2
 Solving Equations Using Division
To solve equations like 4x 32 , we can use division.

4x 32
4x 32
4 4
x 8
In this problem, the x is being multiplied by 4.
To solve for x, we will need to do the inverse
of multiplying by 4, which is DIVIDING by 4.
**Don’t forget that you will need to do this to
BOTH sides of the equation to keep it balanced!
Lots of steps! Where should you
start??

3(x 2) 4x 12 1
distribute 3( x 2) 4x 12
Combine like terms 1
simplify

3x 6 4x 13
7x 6 13
6 6
7x 7
7
• Solve the equation

If you put -6 back in for a in the original problem you will

see that -6 is the solution we are looking for.
• Solve the equation

If you put 2 back in for x in the original problem you

will see that 2 is the solution we are looking for.
• Solve the equation

If you put 9 back in for x in the original problem you will

see that 9 is the solution we are looking for.
• Solve the equation

If you put 4/3 back in for x in

the original problem you will
see that 4/3 is the solution
we are looking for.
Solve for x.

If you put 4 back in for x in the original problem you

will see that 4 is the solution we are looking for.
• Solve the equation

Where did our variable, x,

go??? It disappeared on us. Also
note how we ended up with a
FALSE statement, -1 is not equal
to
12. This does not mean that x = 12
or x = -1.

Whenever your variable drops

out AND you end up with a false
statement, then after all of your
hard work, there is NO
SOLUTION.
So, the answer is no solution.
• Solve the equation

This time when our variable dropped out, we ended up

with a TRUE statement. Whenever that happens your
answer is ALL REAL NUMBERS. So, the answer is all real
numbers.
Exercises
• Solve the following:
Solution to Exercises

If you put 4 back in for x in the original problem you

will see that 4 is the solution we are looking for.
If you put - 4 back in for x in the original problem you will
see that - 4 is the solution we are looking for.
If you put 4 back in for a in the original problem you will see
that 4 is the solution we are looking for.
This time when our variable dropped out, we ended up
with a FALSE statement. Whenever that happens your
answer is NO SOLUTION.
More Exercises

Note that 3 does cause two of

the denominators to be zero.
So 3 is an extraneous
solution. That means there is
no solution.
The answer is NO solution.
• Solve

Note that -8 does not

cause any denominators
to be zero. So it is not an
extraneous solution.
-8 is the solution to our
equation.
• Solve

Note that 5 does cause two

of the denominators to be
zero.
So 5 is an extraneous
solution. That means there
is no solution.
The answer is NO
solution.
George Polya’s Four Steps to
Problem Solving
• Step 1: Understand the problem.
• Step 2: Devise a plan (translate).
• Step 3: Carry out the plan (solve).
• Step 4: Look back (check and
interpret).
Example 1: Twice the difference of a
number and 1 is 4 more than that number.
Find the number.
x = a number

If you take twice the difference of 6 and 1, that is the same as

4 more than 6, so this does check.
Example 2: One number is 3 less than another
number. If the sum of the two numbers is 177,
find each number.
x = another number x - 3 = one number

If we add 90 and 87 (a number 3

less than 90) we do get 177.

FINAL ANSWER:
One number is 90.
Another number is 87.
Example 3: In a blueprint of a rectangular room, the
length is 1 inch more than 3 times the width. Find
the dimensions if the perimeter is to be 26 inches.

w = width 1 + 3w =
length

If width is 3, then length, which

is 1 inch more than 3 times
the width would have to be
10. The perimeter of a
rectangle with width of 3 inches
and length of 10 inches does
come out to be 26.

FINAL ANSWER: Width is 3 inches. Length is 10 inches.

Example 4: Find the measure of each angle in the figure
below. Note that since the angles make up a straight line, they
are supplementary to each other.

x = 1 angle
5x = other angle

If x is 30, then 5x = 5(30) =

150. 150
and 30 do add up to be 180, so
they are supplementary angles.

FINAL ANSWER:
The two angles are 30 degrees and 150 degrees.
Exercises
1. The sum of a number and 2 is 6 less than twice
that number.
2. A rectangular garden has a width that is 8 feet
less than twice the length. Find the
dimensions if the perimeter is 20 feet.
3. Complimentary angles sum up to be 90
degrees. Find the measure of each angle in
the
figure below. Note that since the
angles make up a right angle, they are
complementary to each other.
 The sum of a number and 2 is 6 less than
Solution #1 twice that number.

x = a number

If you take the sum of 8

and 2 it is 6 less than
twice 8, so this does
check.

FINAL ANSWER: The number is 8.

 A rectangular garden has a width that is 8
Solution #2 feet less than twice the length. Find the
dimensions if the perimeter is 20 feet.

L = length
2L - 8 = width

If length is 6, then width, which

is 8 feet less than twice the
length, would have to be
4. The perimeter of a
rectangle with width of 4 feet
and length of 6 feet is 20 feet.

FINAL ANSWER: Width is 4 feet. Length is 6 feet.

 Complimentary angles, sum up to be 90 degrees.
Solution #3 Find the measure of each angle in the figure below.
Note that since the angles make up a right angle, they
are complementary to each other.

x = 1 angle
x + 30 = other angle

If x is 30, then x + 30 = 60.

60 and 30 do add up to be 90, so
they are complementary angles.

FINAL ANSWER: The two angles are 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

THANK YOU! 