MATHEMATICS CLASS 8TH

§ 1.4
Solving Linear
Equations
Linear Equations

Definition of a Linear Equation

A linear equation in one variable x is an

equation that can be written in the form ax
+ b = 0, where a and b are real numbers and a
is not equal to 0.

An example of a linear equation in x is 4x + 2 = 6. Linear

equations in x are first degree equations in the variable x.

Blitzer, Algebra for College Students, 6e – Slide #2 Section 1.4

Properties of Equality
Property
Addition Property of Equality
Multiplication Property of Equality
Blitzer, Algebra for College Students, 6e – Slide #3 Section 1.4
Definition
The same real number or algebraic
expression may be added to both sides
of an equation without changing the
equation’s solution set.
The same nonzero real number may
multiply both sides of an equation
without changing the equation’s
solution set.
Solving Linear Equations

Solving a Linear Equation

1) Simplify the algebraic expressions on each side.
2) Collect all the variable terms on one side and all the
numbers, or constant terms, on the other side
3) Isolate the variable and solve.
4) Check the proposed solution in the original equation.

Blitzer, Algebra for College Students, 6e – Slide #4 Section 1.4

Solving Linear Equations

EXAMPLE

Solve and check: 5 - 3x + 4x = 1 - 7x + 12.

SOLUTION

1) Simplify the algebraic expressions on each side.

5 - 3x + 4x = 1 - 7x + 12

5 + x = 13 - 7x Combine like terms:

-3x + 4x = x
1 + 12 = 13

Blitzer, Algebra for College Students, 6e – Slide #5 Section 1.4

Solving Linear Equations

CONTINUED

2) Collect variable terms on one side and constant terms

on the other side.

5 + x + 7x = 13 - 7x + 7x Add 7x to both sides

5 + 8x = 13 Simplify

5 – 5 + 8x = 13 - 5 Subtract 5 from both sides

8x = 8 Simplify

Blitzer, Algebra for College Students, 6e – Slide #6 Section 1.4

Solving Linear Equations

CONTINUED

3) Isolate the variable and solve.

8x  8 Divide both sides by 8
8 8

x=1 Simplify

Blitzer, Algebra for College Students, 6e – Slide #7 Section 1.4

Solving Linear Equations

CONTINUED

4) Check the proposed solution in the original equation.

5 - 3x + 4x = 2 - 7x + 6 Original equation
?
5 – 3(1) + 4(1) = 1 – 7(1) + 12 Replace x with 1
5 – 3 + 4 ?= 1 – 7 + 12 Multiply
?
2 + 4 = – 6 + 12 Add or subtract from left to
right
6=6 Add

Blitzer, Algebra for College Students, 6e – Slide #8 Section 1.4

Solving Linear Equations

EXAMPLE
2x 1 x  2 x
Solve and check:  
3 5 2
SOLUTION 2x 1 x  2 x
 
3 5 2

1) Simplify the algebraic expressions on each side.

Multiply both sides

 2x  1 x  2   x
30
 3

5 
  30 
2
by the LCD: 30

30  2 x  1  30  x  2  30  x 
      Distributive Property
1  3  1  5  1 2

Blitzer, Algebra for College Students, 6e – Slide #9 Section 1.4

Solving Linear Equations

CONTINUED

30  2 x  1  30  x  2  30  x 
     
1  3  1  5  1 2
Cancel
10  2 x  1  6  x  2  15  x 
     
1  1  1 1  1 1

102 x  1  6x  2   15 x Multiply

20 x  10  6 x  12  15 x Distribute

Blitzer, Algebra for College Students, 6e – Slide #10 Section 1.4

Solving Linear Equations

CONTINUED

14x + 2 = 15x Combine like terms

2) Collect variable terms on one side and constant terms

on the other side.

14x – 14x + 2 = 15x – 14x Subtract 14x from both sides

2=x Simplify

3) Isolate the variable and solve.

Already done.

Blitzer, Algebra for College Students, 6e – Slide #11 Section 1.4

Solving Linear Equations

CONTINUED
4) Check the proposed solution in the original equation.

2x 1 x  2 ? x
  Original Equation
3 5 2

22   1 2   2 ? 2 
  Replace x with 2
3 5 2

4 1 2  2 ? 2
  Simplify
3 5 2

3 0 ?2
  Simplify
3 5 2

Blitzer, Algebra for College Students, 6e – Slide #12 Section 1.4

Solving Linear Equations

CONTINUED

1-0=1 Simplify

1=1 Simplify

Since the proposed x value of 2 made a true sentence

of 1 = 1 when substituted into the original equation,
then 2 is indeed a solution of the original equation.

Blitzer, Algebra for College Students, 6e – Slide #13 Section 1.4

Categorizing an Equations

Type of Equations Definitions

Identity An equation that is true for
all real numbers
Conditional An equation that is not an
identity but is true for at
least one real number
Inconsistent An equation that is not true
(contradiction) for any real number

Blitzer, Algebra for College Students, 6e – Slide #14 Section 1.4

Categorizing an Equation

EXAMPLE

Solve and determine whether the equation is an identity,

a conditional equation or an inconsistent equation.
5 + 4x = 9x + 5

SOLUTION

5 + 4x = 9x + 5
5 - 5 + 4x = 9x + 5 - 5 Subtract 5 from both sides
4x = 9x Simplify

4x – 4x = 9x – 4x Subtract 4x from both sides

Blitzer, Algebra for College Students, 6e – Slide #15 Section 1.4

Categorizing an Equation

CONTINUED

0 = 5x Simplify
0 5x
 Divide both sides by 5
5 5

0=x Simplify

The original equation is only true when x = 0.

Therefore, it is a conditional equation.

Blitzer, Algebra for College Students, 6e – Slide #16 Section 1.4

Categorizing an Equation

EXAMPLE

Solve and determine whether the equation is an identity,

a conditional equation or an inconsistent equation.
5 – (2x – 4) = 4(x +1) - 2x
SOLUTION
5 – (2x – 4) = 4(x +1) - 2x
5 – 2x +4 = 4x + 4 -2x Distribute the -1 and the 4

9 - 2x = 4 - 2x Simplify

9=4 Add 2x to both sides.

Since after simplification we see a contradiction, we know that the
original equation is inconsistent and can never be true for any x.

Blitzer, Algebra for College Students, 6e – Slide #17 Section 1.4

Categorizing an Equation

EXAMPLE

Solve and determine whether the equation is an identity,

a conditional equation or an inconsistent equation.
3 + 2x = 3(x +1) - x

SOLUTION

3 + 2x = 3(x +1) - x
3 + 2x = 3x + 3 - x Distribute the 3
3 + 2x = 2x + 3 Simplify
Since after simplification we can see that the left hand side (LHS) is equal to
the RHS of the equation, this is an identity and is always true for all x.

Blitzer, Algebra for College Students, 6e – Slide #18 Section 1.4