GCSE Maths – Algebra

Solving Linear Equations

Notes

WORKSHEET

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Solving Linear Equations

Linear equations
Linear equations are equations with only one type of unknown. This unknown can be on
either or both sides of the equation.

For an equation to be called linear, the power of the unknown variable is to the power of 1
(e.g. 𝑥𝑥 or 𝑦𝑦 ). To solve linear equations, you must ensure the unknowns are put together on
only one side of the equation.

Example: Solve 2𝑥𝑥 + 6 = 10

1. Eliminate the numbers which are present on the same side as the unknown. This can be
done by subtraction or addition. Make sure that any operation is performed on both
sides of the equation.
2𝑥𝑥 + 6 = 10

Subtract 6 from both sides of the equation:

2𝑥𝑥 = 4

2. Eliminate the coefficient of the unknown by dividing or multiplying the unknown by its
own coefficient.
2𝑥𝑥 = 4

Divide both sides of the equation by 2:

𝑥𝑥 = 2

3. Check the answer by substituting the value of the unknown back into the original
equation. The value of the expression on the left-hand side of the equation should be
equal to the value of the expression on the right-hand side of the equation.

2(2) + 6 = 10
10 = 10

Hence, the final answer is indeed 𝒙𝒙 = 𝟐𝟐.

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Solving equations with unknowns on both sides
There will be cases where the unknown variable, say 𝑥𝑥, is present on both sides of the
equation.

• In this case, first we need to collect the unknowns together on one side of the
equation.
• Once the unknowns are together, we can solve the equation by following the same
method as is done in the example above.

Example: Solve 4𝑥𝑥 − 3 = 2𝑥𝑥 + 5

1. Ensure the unknowns are collected together on one side of the equation. To do this, we
can subtract the unknown with the smaller coefficient from both sides of the equation.

4𝑥𝑥 − 3 = 2𝑥𝑥 + 5

Subtract 2𝑥𝑥 from both sides of the equation:

2𝑥𝑥 − 3 = 5

2. Eliminate the whole number on the same side with the unknown.

2𝑥𝑥 − 3 = 5

Add 3 to both sides of the equation:

2𝑥𝑥 = 8

3. Eliminate the coefficient of the unknown variable 𝑥𝑥.

2𝑥𝑥 = 8

Divide both sides of the equation by 2:

𝑥𝑥 = 4

4. Substitute the value of the unknown back to the original equation to check the answer.

4(4) − 3 = 2(4) + 5
13 = 13

Hence, the final answer is indeed 𝒙𝒙 = 𝟒𝟒.

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Solving linear equations involving fractions
For linear equations with fractions, we need to eliminate the denominator of the fraction. To
do this, we multiply both sides with the denominator value. The equation can then be solved
using the same steps as the other linear equations previously seen.

1
Example: Solve for 𝑥𝑥 when (9𝑥𝑥 − 2) = 2𝑥𝑥 + 4
4

1. Convert the equation into a fraction.

9𝑥𝑥 − 2
= 2𝑥𝑥 + 4
4

2. Multiply both sides of the equation by the denominator of the fraction.

9𝑥𝑥 − 2
= 2𝑥𝑥 + 4
4

Multiply both sides of the equation by 4:

9𝑥𝑥 − 2 = 8𝑥𝑥 + 16

3. Place the unknowns on one side of the equation.

9𝑥𝑥 − 2 = 8𝑥𝑥 + 16

Subtract 8𝑥𝑥 from both sides of the equation:

𝑥𝑥 − 2 = 16

4. Eliminate the whole number on the same side of the equation as the unknown.

𝑥𝑥 − 2 = 16

Add 2 to both sides of the equation:

𝑥𝑥 = 18

5. Substitute the value of the unknown back to the original equation to check the answer.

1
(9 (18) − 2) = 2 (18) + 4
4
40 = 40

Hence, the final answer is indeed 𝒙𝒙 = 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏.

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Solving linear equations with brackets
For linear equations involving brackets, the brackets need to be expanded before the
equation can be solved.

Example: Solve 4(𝑥𝑥 − 2) − 3(𝑥𝑥 + 1) = 5

1. Expand the brackets.

4(𝑥𝑥 − 2) − 3(𝑥𝑥 + 1) = 5
4𝑥𝑥 − 8 − 3𝑥𝑥 − 3 = 5

2. Simplify the equation by collecting like terms.

4𝑥𝑥 − 8 − 3𝑥𝑥 − 3 = 5
𝑥𝑥 − 11 = 5

3. Eliminate the whole number on the same side of the unknown.

𝑥𝑥 − 11 = 5
Add 11 to both sides of the equation:
𝑥𝑥 = 16

4. Substitute the value of the unknown back to the original equation to check the answer.

4(16 − 2) − 3(16 + 1) = 5
5=5

Hence, the final answer is indeed 𝒙𝒙 = 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏.

Find approximate solutions using a graph

The value of an unknown in a linear equation can be determined using a graph. A linear
equation corresponds to a straight line on a graph. Using the line, we can calculate the value
when we input a particular value for 𝑥𝑥 or 𝑦𝑦.

Example: Using the given graph, determine the values of 𝑥𝑥 when 𝑦𝑦 = 3 and 𝑦𝑦 = 2.
The equation of the graph is 𝑦𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑥 + 1.
1. Using the given line, we can estimate the
value of 𝑥𝑥 by looking at the point on the
line where 𝑦𝑦 = 3. From the orange line,
we can determine that 𝑦𝑦 = 3 when 𝑥𝑥 = 1.

2. Next, we estimate the value of 𝑥𝑥 when

𝑦𝑦 = 2. From the red line, we can
estimate that the value of 𝑥𝑥 is
approximately 0.5 when 𝑦𝑦 = 2.

3. Hence, the final answer is 𝑥𝑥 = 1 when

𝑦𝑦 = 3 and 𝑥𝑥 = 0.5 when 𝑦𝑦 = 2.

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 Solving Linear Equations – Practice Questions

1. Solve the following linear equation for 𝑥𝑥:

3𝑥𝑥 − 4 = 11

2. Solve the following linear equation for 𝑥𝑥:

10 − 𝑥𝑥 = 4

3. Solve the following linear equation for 𝑥𝑥:

2𝑥𝑥 − 15 = 5𝑥𝑥 − 21

4. Solve the following linear equation for 𝑥𝑥:

−8 − 9𝑥𝑥 = 28 − 3𝑥𝑥

5. Solve the following linear equation for 𝑥𝑥:

1
𝑥𝑥 = 𝑥𝑥 − 2
5

6. Solve the following linear equation for 𝑥𝑥:

(4 + 3𝑥𝑥) (𝑥𝑥 + 4) 3
− =
5 2 2

1
7. A line has an equation of 𝑦𝑦 = 3𝑥𝑥 + 2. By sketching the graph, determine the
approximate value of 𝑦𝑦 when 𝑥𝑥 = 1.

8. A line has an equation of 𝑦𝑦 − 6 = 2 − 4𝑥𝑥. By sketching the graph, estimate the value
of 𝑥𝑥 when 𝑦𝑦 = 2.

Worked solutions for the practice questions can be found amongst the worked solutions for the
corresponding worksheet file.

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