Linear Equations Notes

Page 1: Introduction to Linear Equations

What is a Linear Equation?
A linear equation is an algebraic equation in which each term is either a constant or the product of a
constant and a single variable.
The standard form of a linear equation in one variable is , where:
and are constants
is the variable

Examples:
1.
2.
3.

Characteristics:
Graphs of linear equations are straight lines.
Solutions to linear equations are the values of the variable that make the equation true.

Page 2: Solving Linear Equations

Steps to Solve:
1. Simplify both sides: Combine like terms on each side of the equation.
2. Isolate the variable: Use addition or subtraction to get the variable term alone on one side.
3. Solve for the variable: Use multiplication or division to solve for the variable.

Example:
Solve :

1. Subtract 4 from both sides: ⟹

2. Divide both sides by 3: ⟹

Practice Problems:
1.
2.
3.

Page 3: Graphing Linear Equations

Basics of Graphing:
A linear equation in two variables can be written as , where:
is the slope
is the y-intercept

Steps to Graph:
1. Identify the slope ( ) and y-intercept ( ).
2. Plot the y-intercept on the y-axis.
3. Use the slope to find another point on the line.
4. Draw the line through the points.

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Example:
Graph :

1. Slope ( ) = 2, y-intercept ( ) = 1
2. Plot (0, 1) on the graph.
3. From (0, 1), use the slope (rise over run = 2/1). Go up 2 units and right 1 unit to plot the second point (1, 3).
4. Draw the line through (0, 1) and (1, 3).

Page 4: Slope and Intercept

Slope:
The slope ( ) represents the steepness of the line.
Calculated as

Y-Intercept:
The y-intercept ( ) is where the line crosses the y-axis.

Example:
Find the slope and y-intercept of :

Slope ( ) = -3
Y-intercept ( ) = 4

Page 5: Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

Parallel Lines:
Two lines are parallel if they have the same slope.
Example: and are parallel (both have slope 2).

Perpendicular Lines:
Two lines are perpendicular if the product of their slopes is -1.
Example: and are perpendicular ( ).

Page 6: Systems of Linear Equations

Definition:
A system of linear equations is a set of two or more linear equations with the same variables.

Solving Methods:
1. Graphing: Plot both lines and find the intersection point.
2. Substitution: Solve one equation for one variable, then substitute into the other.
3. Elimination: Add or subtract equations to eliminate one variable.

Example:
Solve using substitution:

1.
2.
3. Solve the first equation for :
4. Substitute into the second: ⟹ ⟹ ⟹
5. Substitute into : ⟹

Solution:

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Page 7: Word Problems and Applications
Steps to Solve Word Problems:
1. Read the problem carefully.
2. Identify the variables.
3. Write the linear equation(s) based on the problem.
4. Solve the equation(s).
5. Interpret the solution in the context of the problem.

Example:
A total of $500 is to be divided between two people. The first person gets $50 more than the second person. How
much does each person get?

1. Let be the amount the second person gets.

2. The first person gets .
3. Write the equation: .
4. Solve: ⟹ ⟹ .
5. The second person gets $225, and the first person gets .

Solution: The first person gets $275 and the second person gets $225.

Page 8: Linear Equations with Fractions

Solving Linear Equations Involving Fractions
1. Clear the fractions: Multiply both sides of the equation by the least common denominator (LCD) of all the
fractions.
2. Simplify: Perform the multiplication to eliminate the fractions.
3. Isolate the variable: Follow the same steps as solving a regular linear equation.

Example:
Solve :

1. Find the LCD of 2, 3, and 6, which is 6.

2. Multiply both sides by 6: ⟹
3. Add 2 to both sides: ⟹
4. Divide by 3: ⟹

Practice Problems:
1.
2.
3.

Page 9: Linear Inequalities

What is a Linear Inequality?
A linear inequality looks like a linear equation, but instead of an equals sign (=), it uses inequality symbols:
.

Solving Linear Inequalities:

1. Simplify both sides: Combine like terms and simplify both sides.
2. Isolate the variable: Use addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division to isolate the variable.
3. Flip the inequality sign: When multiplying or dividing both sides by a negative number, flip the inequality
sign.

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Example:
Solve :

1. Add 3 to both sides: ⟹

2. Divide by 2: ⟹

Graphing Solutions:
Represent the solution on a number line. Use an open circle for or , and a closed circle for or .

Practice Problems:
1.
2.
3.

Page 10: Absolute Value Equations and Inequalities

Absolute Value Equations:
The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero on the number line.
An absolute value equation is of the form .

Solving Absolute Value Equations:

1. Isolate the absolute value expression.
2. Set up two separate equations: and .
3. Solve each equation.

Example:
Solve :

1. Set up two equations: and

2. Solve : Add 3 to both sides: , then divide by 2:
3. Solve : Add 3 to both sides: , then divide by 2:
4. Solutions: or

Absolute Value Inequalities:

means .
means or .

Practice Problems:
1.
2.
3.

Page 11: Systems of Linear Inequalities

What is a System of Linear Inequalities?
A system of linear inequalities consists of multiple inequalities with the same variables.

Solving Systems of Linear Inequalities:

1. Graph each inequality: Use a solid line for or and a dashed line for or .
2. Shade the solution region: The solution to each inequality is a half-plane. The solution to the system is
the overlapping region (intersection) of all the half-planes.

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Example:
Solve the system:

1.
2.
3. Graph : Use a solid line and shade below the line.
4. Graph : Use a dashed line and shade above the line.
5. The solution is the overlapping shaded region.

Practice Problems:
1. and
2. and
3. and

Page 12: Linear Functions

What is a Linear Function?
A linear function is a function whose graph is a straight line.
It can be written in the form , where:
is the slope
is the y-intercept

Examples of Linear Functions:

1.
2.

Evaluating Linear Functions:

To evaluate a linear function, substitute the given value of into the function and solve for .

Example:
Evaluate for :

1. Substitute 2 for :
2. Calculate:

Practice Problems:
1. Evaluate for .
2. Evaluate for .
3. Evaluate for .

Page 13: Applications of Linear Equations

Real-World Applications:
Linear equations are used in various fields such as business, science, and engineering to model
relationships and make predictions.

Example Problems:
1. Budgeting: If you earn $15 per hour, write a linear equation to represent your earnings after hours.
Equation:
Predict earnings after 10 hours:
2. Distance-Rate-Time: If you travel at a constant speed of 60 miles per hour, write a linear equation for the
distance traveled in hours.
Equation:
Calculate the distance after 3 hours:
3. Temperature Conversion: Convert Celsius to Fahrenheit using the linear equation .
Convert 25°C to Fahrenheit:

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Practice Problems:
1. Write a linear equation to represent the total cost if each item costs $4 and you buy items.
2. A car rental company charges a base fee of $20 plus $0.50 per mile driven. Write a linear equation for the
total cost if you drive miles.
3. The temperature in a freezer is decreasing at a constant rate of 2°C per hour. Write a linear equation for
the temperature after hours if the initial temperature is 0°C.

Page 14: Linear Equations in Real Life

Business and Economics:
Break-Even Analysis: Determine the point at which total revenue equals total costs.
Example: If the cost to produce a product is

$5 per unit and the selling price is $8 per unit, find the break-even point.

Equation:

Physics:
Motion: Linear equations describe motion with constant velocity.
Example: If an object moves at a constant speed of 10 m/s, the distance traveled in seconds is
.

Medicine:
Dosage Calculations: Determine the correct dosage of medication based on weight.
Example: If the dosage is 2 mg per kg of body weight, for a person weighing 70 kg, the dosage is
mg.

Practice Problems:
1. A company’s profit is given by , where is the number of units sold. Find the profit
when 10 units are sold.
2. A car travels at a speed of 45 miles per hour. Write a linear equation to represent the distance traveled
in hours. Calculate the distance after 5 hours.
3. A patient needs 5 mg of medicine per kg of body weight. If the patient weighs 60 kg, find the total dosage
required.

Page 15: Review and Summary

Key Concepts:
1. Linear Equations: Equations of the form and how to solve them.
2. Graphing: Plotting linear equations and understanding slope and y-intercept.
3. Systems of Equations: Solving multiple linear equations using various methods.
4. Applications: Using linear equations in real-life scenarios.

Important Formulas:
1. Slope Formula:
2. Slope-Intercept Form:
3. Standard Form:

Tips for Success:

Practice regularly: Solve various types of linear equations and inequalities.
Understand concepts: Focus on understanding rather than memorizing.
Apply to real life: Relate problems to real-life situations for better understanding.

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Practice Problems:
1. Solve .
2. Graph the equation .
3. Solve the system of equations: and .
4. Write a linear equation for a scenario where you save $10 each week and have $50 already saved.

Page 16: Advanced Topics and Further Study

Linear Algebra:
Matrices: Study matrix operations and their applications in solving systems of equations.
Vector Spaces: Learn about vectors and their role in linear equations.

Calculus:
Differentiation: Understand the relationship between linear functions and their derivatives.
Integration: Explore how to find the area under a line.

Statistics:
Linear Regression: Use linear equations to model and analyze relationships between variables.

Resources for Further Study:

1. Textbooks: "Algebra for Beginners" by John Smith
2. Online Courses: Khan Academy, Coursera
3. Tutoring: Seek help from a tutor for personalized guidance.

Practice Problems:
1. Use matrices to solve the system: , .
2. Differentiate the function .
3. Perform a simple linear regression on a given data set to find the best-fit line.

Conclusion:
Linear equations are a fundamental concept in mathematics with wide-ranging applications. Mastering them
provides a strong foundation for more advanced studies in various fields. Keep practicing and exploring new
problems to enhance your understanding and skills.

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