C H A P T E R

2
Linear Equations
and Inequalities in
One Variable

ome ancient peoples chewed on leaves to cure their headaches.

S Thousands of years ago, the Egyptians used honey, salt, cedar
oil, and sycamore bark to cure illnesses. Currently, some of the
indigenous people of North America use black birch as a pain reliever.
Today, we are grateful for the miracles of modern medicine and the
seemingly simple cures for illnesses. From our own experiences we
know that just the right amount of a drug can work wonders but too
much of a drug can do great harm. Even though physicians often pre-
1000 Adult dose scribe the same drug for children and adults, the amount given must be
tailored to the individual. The portion of a drug given to children is
usually reduced on the basis of factors such as the weight and height
of the child. Likewise, older adults frequently need a lower dosage of
Child’s dosage (mg)

medication than what would be prescribed for a younger, more ac-

tive person.
500 Various algebraic formulas have been developed for deter-
mining the proper dosage for a child and an older adult. In
Exercises 83 and 84 of Section 2.4 you will see two formulas
that are used to determine a child’s dosage by using the
adult dosage and the child’s age.

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Age of child (yr)
66 (2-2) Chapter 2 Linear Equations and Inequalities in One Variable

2.1 THE ADDITION AND MULTIPLIC ATION

PROPERTIES OF EQUALITY
In Section 1.6, you learned that an equation is a statement that two expressions are
In this equal. You also learned how to determine whether a number is a solution to an equa-
section tion. In this section you will learn systematic procedures for finding solutions to
equations.
● The Addition Property of
Equality
The Addition Property of Equality
● The Multiplication Property
of Equality The equations that we work with in this section and the next two are called linear
● Variables on Both Sides equations.

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  0.

An equation such as 2x  3  0 is a linear equation. We also refer to equations

helpful hint such as
Think of an equation like a bal- x  8  0, 3x  7, 2x  5  9  5x, and 3  5(x  1)  7  x
ance scale.To keep the scale in
balance, what you add to one as linear equations, because these equations could be written in the form ax  b  0
side you must also add to the using the properties of equality, which we are about to discuss.
other side. If two workers have equal salaries and each gets a $1000 raise, then they still have
equal salaries after the raise. This example illustrates the addition property of equality.

3 3 The Addition Property of Equality

x–3 –7
Adding the same number to both sides of an equation does not change the
solution to the equation. In symbols, if a  b, then
a  c  b  c.

Equations that have the same solution are called equivalent equations. To solve an
equation means to find all of the solutions to the equation. In our first example we
use the addition property of equality to solve an equation.

E X A M P L E 1 Adding the same number to both sides

Solve x  3  7.
Solution
We can remove the 3 from the left side of the equation by adding 3 to each side of
the equation:
x  3  7
x  3  3  7  3 Add 3 to each side.
x  0  4 Simplify each side.
x  4 Zero is the additive identity.
 2.1 The Addition and Multiplication Properties of Equality (2-3) 67

Since 4 satisfies the last equation, it should also satisfy the original equation
because all of the previous equations are equivalent. Check that 4 satisfies the
original equation by replacing x by 4:
x  3  7 Original equation
4  3  7 Replace x by 4.
7  7 Simplify.

Since 4  3  7 is correct, 4 is the solution to the equation. ■

In Example 1, we used addition to isolate the variable on the left-hand side of

the equation. Once the variable is isolated, we can determine the solution to the
equation. Because subtraction is defined in terms of addition, we can also use sub-
traction to isolate the variable.

E X A M P L E 2 Subtracting the same number from both sides

Solve 9  x  2.
Solution
We can remove the 9 from the left side by adding 9 to each side or by subtracting 9
from each side of the equation:
9  x  2
9  x  9  2  9 Subtract 9 from each side.
x  11 Simplify each side.

Check that 11 satisfies the original equation by replacing x by 11:

9  x  2 Original equation
9  (11)  2 Replace x by 11.

Since 9  (11)  2 is correct, 11 is the solution to the equation. ■

Our goal in solving equations is to isolate the variable. In the first two examples,
the variable was isolated on the left side of the equation. In the next example, we
isolate the variable on the right side of the equation.

E X A M P L E 3 Isolating the variable on the right side

1 1
Solve 2  4  y.
Solution
We can remove 1 from the right side by adding 1 to both sides of the equation:
4 4

1 1
    y
2 4
1 1 1 1
      y   1
Add  to each side.
4
2 4 4 4
3
 y Simplify each side.
4
68 (2-4) Chapter 2 Linear Equations and Inequalities in One Variable

Check that 3 satisfies the original equation by replacing y by 3:

4 4

study tip 1 1
    y Original equation
Don’t simply work exercises to
2 4
get answers. Keep reminding 1 1 3
yourself of what it is that you      3
Replace y by .
4
2 4 4
are doing. Keep trying to get
the big picture. How does this 1 2
section relate to what we did
   Simplify.
2 4
in the last section? Where are
we going next? When is the
Since 1  24 is correct, 3 is the solution to the equation. ■
picture complete? 2 4

The Multiplication Property of Equality

To isolate a variable that is involved in a product or a quotient, we need the multi-
plication property of equality.

The Multiplication Property of Equality

Multiplying both sides of an equation by the same nonzero number does not
change the solution to the equation. In symbols, if a  b and c  0, then
ac  bc.

If the variable in an equation is divided by a number, we can isolate the variable by

multiplying each side of the equation by the divisor as in the next example.

E X A M P L E 4 Multiplying both sides by the same number

Solve 2z  6.

Solution
We isolate the variable z by multiplying each side of the equation by 2.
z
 6 Original equation
2
z
2  26 Multiply each side by 2.
2
1z  12 z 1
Because 2    2   z  1z
2 2

z  12 Multiplicative identity

Because 122  6, we are certain that 12 is the solution. ■

Because dividing by a number is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal, the

multiplication property of equality allows us to divide each side of the equation by
any nonzero number.
 2.1 The Addition and Multiplication Properties of Equality (2-5) 69

E X A M P L E 5 Dividing both sides by the same number

Solve 5w  30.
Solution
Since w is multiplied by 5, we can isolate w by multiplying by 15 or by dividing
helpful hint each side by 5:
We could have multiplied 5w  30 Original equation
each side of the equation
5w 30
1
by  instead of dividing    Divide each side by 5.
5 5 5
by 5: 5
1  w  6 Because   1
1 1 5
 (5w)   (30)
5 5 w  6 Multiplicative identity
w  6
Because 5(6)  30, 6 is the solution to 5w  30. ■
In the next example, the coefficient of the variable is a fraction. We could divide
each side by the coefficient as we did in Example 5, but it is easier to multiply each
side by the reciprocal of the coefficient.

E X A M P L E 6 Multiplying by the reciprocal

Solve 2 p  40.
3
Solution
Multiply each side by 3, the reciprocal of 2, to isolate p on the left side.
helpful hint 2 3
2
You could solve this equation  p  40
by multiplying each side by 3 3
to get 2p  120, and then di- 3 2 3
viding each side by 2 to get    p    40 3
Multiply each side by .
2
2 3 2
p  60.
1  p  60 Multiplicative inverses
p  60 Multiplicative identity
2
Because  60  40, we can be sure that the solution is 60.

3
■

If the coefficient of the variable is an integer, we usually divide each side by that
integer, as in Example 5. If the coefficient of the variable is a fraction we usually
multiply each side by the reciprocal of the fraction as in Example 6.
If x appears in an equation, we can multiply by 1 to get x, because
1(x)  (x)  x.

E X A M P L E 7 Multiplying by 1
Solve h  12.
Solution
Multiply each side by 1 to get h on the left side.
h  12
1 (h)  1  12
h  12
Since (12)  12, the solution is 12. ■
70 (2-6) Chapter 2 Linear Equations and Inequalities in One Variable

Variables on Both Sides

In the next example, the variable occurs on both sides of the equation. Because the
variable represents a real number, we can still isolate the variable by using the
addition property of equality.

E X A M P L E 8 Subtracting an algebraic expression from both sides

Solve 9  6y  7y.

Solution
The expression 6y can be removed from the left side of the equation by subtracting
helpful hint 6y from both sides.
It does not matter whether
the variable ends up on the
9  6y  7y
left or right side of the equa- 9  6y  6y  7y  6y Subtract 6y from each side.
tion. Whether we get y  9
9  y Simplify each side.
or 9  y we can still con-
clude that the solution is 9. Check by replacing y by 9 in the original equation:

9  6(9)  7(9)
63  63
The solution to the equation is 9. ■

Applications
In the next example, we use the multiplication property of equality in an applied
situation.

E X A M P L E 9 Population density
In 1990, San Francisco had 2 as many people per hectare as New York (U.S.
3
Bureau of Census, www.census.gov). The population density of San Francisco was
60 people per hectare. What was the population density of New York?

Solution
If p represents the population density of New York, then 2 p  60. To find p, solve
3
the equation:

2
 p  60
3
3 2 3
   p    60 3
Multiply each side by .
2
2 3 2
p  90 Simplify.

So the population density of New York was 90 people per hectare. ■

 2.1 The Addition and Multiplication Properties of Equality (2-7) 71

WARM-UPS
True or false? Explain your answer.
1. The solution to x  5  5 is 10. True
2. The equation x  4 is equivalent to the equation x  8. True
2
3. To solve 3y  12, we should multiply each side by 3. False
4 4
4. The equation x  4 is equivalent to 1 x  4. True
7 7
5. Multiplying each side of an equation by any real number will result in an
equation that is equivalent to the original equation. False
6. To isolate t in 2t  7  t, subtract t from each side. True
7. To solve 2r  30, we should multiply each side by 3. True
3 2
8. Adding any real number to both sides of an equation will result in an
equation that is equivalent to the original equation. True
9. The equation 5x  0 is equivalent to x  0. True
10. The solution to 2x  3  x  1 is 4. True

2. 1 EXERCISES
Reading and Writing After reading this section, write out the 1 1 2 1 1 5
13. w      14. w     
answers to these questions. Use complete sentences. 3 3 3 3 2 6
1. What does the addition property of equality say?
Solve each equation. Show your work and check your answer.
The addition property of equality says that adding the same
See Example 2.
number to each side of an equation does not change the
solution to the equation. 15. x  3  6 9 16. x  4  3 7
2. What are equivalent equations? 17. 12  x  7 19 18. 19  x  11 30
Equivalent equations are equations that have the same 1 3 1 1 2
19. t      20. t    1 
solution. 2 4 4 3 3
3. What is the multiplication property of equality? 1 1 1 1 1
The multiplication property of equality says that multiply- 21.   m   0 22.   n   
19 19 3 2 6
ing both sides of an equation by the same nonzero number
does not change the solution to the equation. Solve each equation. Show your work and check your answer.
4. What is a linear equation in one variable? See Example 3.
A linear equation in one variable is an equation of the form 23. 2  x  7 5 24. 3  x  5 2
ax  b  0 where a  0. 25. 13  y  9 4 26. 14  z  12 2
5. How can you tell if your solution to an equation is correct? 27. 0.5  2.5  x 3 28. 0.6  1.2  x 1.8
Replace the variable in the equation with your solution. If 1 1 1 1 1 1
the resulting statement is correct, then the solution is 29.     r  30.     h 
8 8 4 6 6 3
correct.
6. To obtain an equivalent equation, what are you not allowed Solve each equation. Show your work and check your answer.
to do to both sides of the equation? See Example 4.
In solving equations, you are not allowed to multiply or x x
31.   4 8 32.   6 18
divide both sides by 0. 2 3
Solve each equation. Show your work and check your answer. y y
33. 0.03   1.8 34. 0.05   4
See Example 1. 60 80
7. x  6  5 1 8. x  7  2 5 a 1 2 b 1 2
35.     36.    
9. 13  x  4 9 10. 8  x  12 4 2 3 3 2 5 5
1 1 1 1 3 1 c 1 1 d 1
11. y     1 12. y      37.     38.    
2 2 4 2 4 6 3 2 12 3 4
72 (2-8) Chapter 2 Linear Equations and Inequalities in One Variable

Solve each equation. Show your work and check your answer. 2 1 3 3 1 4
83. x    84. x   
See Example 5. 3 2 4 4 3 9
39. 3x  15 5 40. 5x  20 4 1 1
85. 5x  7  6x 7 86.   3y  4y 
41. 20  4y 5 42. 18  3a 6 2 2
5a 7r
43. 2w  2.5 1.25 44. 2x  5.6 2.8 87.   10 14 88.   14 24
7 12
1 1
45. 5  20x  46. 3  27d  1 1 3 3 1 7 4 7
4 9 89. v  v    90. s    s 
2 2 8 8 3 9 3 9
Solve each equation. Show your work and check your answer. Solve each problem by writing and solving an equation. See
See Example 6. Example 9.
3 2
47.  x  3 2 48.  x  8 12 91. Cigarette consumption. In 1999, cigarette consumption
2 3 in the U.S. was 125 packs per capita. This rate of consump-
3y 7y tion was 5 of what it was in 1980. Find the rate of con-
49. 90   120 50. 14   16 8
4 8 sumption in 1980.
3 1 5 5 3 6 200 packs per capita
51. w    52. t   
5 3 9 2 5 25 92. World grain demand. Freeport McMoRan projects that in
2 4x 1 1 6p 1 2010 world grain supply will be 1.8 trillion metric tons and
53.     54.     the supply will be only 3 of world grain demand. What will
3 3 2 14 7 12 4
Solve each equation. Show your work and check your answer. world grain demand be in 2010?
See Example 7. 2.4 trillion metric tons
55. x  8 8 56. x  4 4
1 1 7 7
57. y    58. y   
3 3 8 8
59. 3.4  z 3.4 60. 4.9  t 4.9
61. k  99 99 62. m  17 17
Solve each equation. Show your work and check your answer.
See Example 8.
63. 4x  3x  7 7 64. 3x  2x  9 9
65. 9  6y  5y 9 66. 12  18w  17w 12
67. 6x  8 7x 8 68. 3x  6  4x 6
1 1 1 3
69. c  5   c 5 70. h  13  h 13 FIGURE FOR EXERCISE 92
2 2 2 2
Use the appropriate property of equality to solve each
13
equation. 93. Advancers and decliners. On Thursday,  of the stocks
25
71. 12  x  17 5 72. 3  x  6 9 traded on the New York Stock Exchange advanced in price.
3 5 If 1495 stocks advanced, then how many stocks were
73. y  6 8 74. z  10 18 traded on that day?
4 9
2875 stocks
75. 3.2  x  1.2 2 76. t  3.8  2.9 0.9
94. Accidental deaths. In 1996, 23 of all accidental deaths in
1 1 1 1 50
77. 2a    78. 3w    the U.S. were the result of automobile accidents (National
3 6 2 6
Center for Health Statistics, www.nchs.gov). If there were
1 1 43,194 deaths due to automobile accidents, then how many
79. 9m  3  80. 4h  2 
3 2 accidental deaths were there in 1996?
81. b  44 44 82. r  55 55 93,900