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Section 0.7 - Linear Equations

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20 views18 pages

Section 0.7 - Linear Equations

Uploaded by

keletsomthethwa497
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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An equation is a statement that two expressions are

equal. The two expressions that make up an equation


are called its sides. They are separated by the equality
sign, “ = ”.
𝐿𝐻𝑆 = 𝑅𝐻𝑆

An equation always has an equal sign and thus we can


solve the unknown. An expression does not have an
equal sign and thus we can only simplify.
Restrictions on variables:
1. Never divide with zero.
2. Never take an even root of a negative number.
3. Some practical problems may also have additional
restrictions.
𝑦
Ex. =6
𝑦−4

𝑥−3
To solve an equation means to find all values of its variables
for which the equation is true.
These values are called solutions of the equation and are
said to satisfy the equation.
When only one variable is involved, a solution is also called
a root.
The set of all solutions is called the solution set of the
equation.
Note that equations can have no solution, a finite amount
of solutions or infinitely many solutions.
Two equations are said to be equivalent if they have
exactly the same solutions, which means, precisely,
that the solution set of one is equal to the solution
set of the other.

Solving an equation may involve performing


operations on it and we prefer that any such
operation result in an equivalent operation.
Operations that guarantee equivalence:
1. Adding or subtracting the same polynomial on
both sides of an equation, where the polynomial is
in the same variable as that occurring in the
equation.
2. Multiplying or dividing both sides of an equation
by the same nonzero constant.
3. Replacing either side of an equation by an equal
expression.
Sometimes in solving an equation we have to apply
operations other than 1 – 3. These operations may
not necessarily result in equivalent equations:
4. Multiplying or dividing both sides of an equation
by an expression involving the variable.
5. Raising both sides of an equation to equal powers.
Operations 4 and 5 may increase or decrease the
number of solutions, giving solutions different from
those of the original equation.
A. Linear equations
A linear equation in the variable 𝑥 is an equation that
is equivalent to one that can be written in the form
𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 = 0 where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are constants and 𝑎 ≠ 0.
A linear equation is also called a first-degree equation
or an equation of degree 1.
Solving: Take all the variables to one side of the
equation and all the constants to the other
side.
A linear equation always has at most one solution.
Ex. Solve:
2𝑝 + 8 = 7𝑝 + 2
B. Literal equations
Equations in which some of the constants are not
specified, but are represented by letters, are called
literal equations and the letters are called literal
constants.
For example, any formula.

Solving: Make the variable that we are trying to


solve, the subject of the equation.
Ex. Solve for 𝑥:
𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0
C. Fractional equations
A fractional equation is an equation in which an
unknown is in a denominator.

Restrictions: The denominator is not allowed to


be zero. Check your answers!

Take note that when solving a fraction, the fraction is


eliminated in the process, however, if we simplify a
fraction, the answer remains a fraction.
Solving:
1. Factorize every numerator and denominator, and
try to write each fraction in its simplest form.
2. Determine the least common denominator (LCD)
and multiply each fraction with the LCD.
3. All the denominators will cancel out and we are
left with an equation that can be solved using
other methods (depends on the resulting
equation).
5 6
Ex. Solve: =
𝑥−4 𝑥−3
D. Radical equations
A radical equation is one in which an unknown occurs
in a radicand.

Restrictions:
With even roots, the radicand has to be zero or
positive.
With any root equation, we have to test our answers
to see if 𝐿𝐻𝑆 = 𝑅𝐻𝑆.
Solving:
Isolate a radical on one side of the equation, raise both
sides to the power that will eliminate the isolated
radical and solve the resulting equation using other
methods (depends on the resulting equation).
If your equation contains more than one radical, isolate
one of the radicals and raise both sides to the power
that will eliminate the isolated radical. Repeat the
process for every radical that appears until all the
radicals are eliminated.
Ex. Solve: 𝑦 − 3 − 𝑦 = −3

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