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Linear Equations

Solving linear equations in one variable involves setting an equation equal to zero by moving all terms with the variable to one side of the equal sign and all other terms to the other side. This is done using the property that whatever is done to one side of an equation must also be done to the other side. Several examples are provided to demonstrate solving linear equations by getting the variable term alone on one side of the equal sign using addition, subtraction, and division.

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Saron Belaineh
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20 views

Linear Equations

Solving linear equations in one variable involves setting an equation equal to zero by moving all terms with the variable to one side of the equal sign and all other terms to the other side. This is done using the property that whatever is done to one side of an equation must also be done to the other side. Several examples are provided to demonstrate solving linear equations by getting the variable term alone on one side of the equal sign using addition, subtraction, and division.

Uploaded by

Saron Belaineh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Linear equations

Solving linear equations in one


variable
Solving linear equations
• Remember this kind of problem?
• ?? +2=7
We just need to figure out which number should go
into the box to make it a true statement. Clearly,
we need to replace the question mark with “5”
5+2=7
• Solving equations using algebra is no different.
• Instead of using a box, we use a letter to
represent a number. Our task is to find the
correct number that makes the equation true.
Solving linear equations in one
variable
• A linear equation in one variable is an equation
involving constants and a single variable which only
occurs to the first power.
• In solving linear equations:
a. We are aiming to get x (or whatever letter used in the
equation) on one side of the equal sign by itself.
b. We solve equations by balancing: whatever we do to
one side of an equation, we must do the same to the
other side. So if for example, we add 4 to the left
hand side (LHS), we must add 4 to the right hand side
(RHS) as well. The same applies to subtraction,
division and multiplication.
Linear equations
• Example: x – 6 = 10
• We need to “get rid” of -6 on the left hand side and
remain with x only on the left hand side.
• The opposite of subtracting 6 is adding 6.
• If we add 6 to both sides, we will remove -6 on the left.
x – 6 + 6 = 10 + 6
x = 16
• So the value of x needs to be 16 to make the equation
true.
• Check into the original equation:
• 16 – 6 = 10 LHS = RHS
Linear equations
• You can also solve linear equations by transposition.
• Example: Solve 4y – 2 - 3y + 8 = -2y – 4 + 5y
• Solution:
• Transpose all terms with y to the LHS and all other
terms to the RHS. (You can also combine like terms
before you transpose).
4y-3y+2y-5y = -4+2-8 [If a term is moved to the other
side of the equal sign, the sign of the term changes).
-2y = -10
• Divide both sides by -2
y=5
Linear equations (continued)
• Solve 5 – (x + 2) = 5x
• First, we expand the brackets
5 – x + 2 = 5x
3 - x = 5x
3 = 5x + x
3 = 6x
• Now, we divide both sides by 6 and swap the
sides.
3/6 = 6x/6
x = 1/2
More examples
• Solve 5(3 – y) – 2(4 – 3y) = 11 – 2(y – 1)
15 – 5y – 8 + 6y = 11 – 2y + 2
7 + y = 13 – 2y
y + 2y = 13 – 7
3y = 6
3y/3 = 6/3
y=2
• Solve 5 – 5g + 7 -2g = -3(g + 2)
5 – 5g + 7 – 2g = -3g – 6
-5g -2g +3g = -6 – 5 – 7
-4g = - 18
-4g/-4 = -18/-4
g = 9/2

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