Chapter 2

Solving Equations
and Inequalities
2.1 SOLVING EQUATIONS: THE ADDITION
PRINCIPLE

a. Determine whether a given number is a

solution of a given equation.
b. Solve equations using the addition
principle.
Equation
An equation is a number sentence that says that the
expressions on either side of the equals sign, =, represent
the same number.
Determine whether the equation is true, false, or neither.
a. 4 + 6 = 10 b. 8 – 3 = 4 c. x + 9 = 21

Solution of an Equation
Any replacement for the variable that makes an equation
true is called a solution of the equation. To solve an
equation means to find all of its solutions.
Determine whether 8 is a solution of x + 12 = 21.
Equivalent Equations
Equations with the same solutions are called equivalent
equations.

The Addition Principle For Equations

For any real numbers a, b, and c,
a = b is equivalent to a + c = b + c.
Solve: x + 6 = –9.
Solution Check
x + 6 = –9 x + 6 = –9
x + 6 – 6 = –9 – 6 –15 + 6 = | –9
x + 0 = –15
x = –15
–9 True
 Example Solve: 8.3 = y  17.9

Solution 8.3 = y  17.9

8.3 + 17.9 = y  17.9 + 17.9
9.6 = y

Check: 8.3 = y  17.9

8.3 | 9.6  17.9
8.3 = 8.3

The solution is 9.6.

 Example
Solve:  1  x  7
5 10
1 7
 x
5 10
1 1 1 7
 x 
5 5 5 10
1 2 7
x  
5 2 10
2 7 9
x  
10 10 10
 SOLVING EQUATIONS: THE
2.2 MULTIPLICATION PRINCIPLE

a. Solve equations using the multiplication

principle.
The Multiplication Principle For Equations
For any real numbers a, b, and c with c  0,
a = b is equivalent to a • c = b • c.
 Example Solve: 7x = 84

Solution 7x = 84
Dividing both sides by 7.
7 x 8 4

7  7
1 x  12
x  12

Check: 7x = 84
7(12) | 84
84 | True
The solution is 12.
 Example

Solve x = 6.

Solution x = 6
(1)(x) = (1)6 Multiplying by 1 on both sides
1(1)x = 6
x = 6

The solution is 6.

 Example
3
Solve: x  15
4

Solution 3
x  15
4
4 3 4
 x  15  Multiplying by the reciprocal of
3 4 3 ¾ on both sides.

1x  20
x  20
 Example

Solve: 3.2y = 9600

3.2y = 9600
3.2 y 9600

3.2 3.2
y  3000
2.3 USING THE PRINCIPLES TOGETHER

a. Solve equations using both the addition

and multiplication principles.
b. Solve equations in which like terms may
need to be collected.
c. Solve equations by first removing
parentheses and collecting like terms;
solve equations with an infinite number of
solutions and equations with no solutions.
 Example Solve: 9 + 8x = 33
Solution 9 + 8x = 33
9 + 8x  9 = 33  9 Subtracting 9 from both sides
9 + ( 9) + 8x = 24
8x = 24
Dividing both sides by 8
8 x 24

8 8
x=3
Check: 9 + 8x = 33
9 + 8(3) | 33
9 + 24 |
33 TRUE The solution is 3.
 Example

Solve: Solve. 4x + 7  6x = 10 + 3x + 12
Solution: 4x + 7  6x = 10 + 3x + 12
2x + 7 = 22 + 3x Collecting like terms

2x + 7  7 = 22 + 3x  7 sides
Subtracting 7 from both

2x = 15 + 3x Simplifying

2x  3x = 15 + 3x  3x Subtracting 3x from both

sides
5x = 15
5 x 1 5 Dividing both sides by 5

5  5
x = 3
 Example
Solve 18.4 – 6.2y = 7.24
Solution
18.4 – 6.2y = 7.24
100(18.4 – 6.2y) = 100(7.24) Multiplying by 100
(100)(18.4) – 100(6.2y) = 100(7.24) Using the distributive law
1840 – 620y = 724 Simplifying
1840 – 1840 – 620y = 724 – 1840 Subtracting 1840
–620y = – 1116 Collecting like terms
–620 – 620 Dividing by – 620
y = 1.8
 Example

Solve: 9x = 3(15 – 2x)

Solution
9x = 3(15 – 2x)
9x = 45 – 6x Using the distributive law

9x + 6x = 45 – 6x + 6x Subtracting 6x to get all x-terms on one side

15x = 45 Collecting like terms

15 15 Dividing by 15

x=3
 Example
Solve: 3 – 8(x + 6) = 4(x – 1) – 5.
Solution
3 – 8(x + 6) = 4(x – 1) – 5 Using the distributive law
to multiply and remove
3 – 8x – 48 = 4x – 4 – 5 parentheses
–45 – 8x = 4x – 9 Collecting like terms

–8x – 45 + 45 = 4x – 9 + 45 Adding 45
–8x = 4x + 36 Collecting like terms
–8x – 4x = 4x + 36 – 4x Subtracting 4x
–12x = 36 Dividing by 12
–12 –12
x=–3
2.4 FORMULAS

a. Evaluate a formula.

b. Solve a formula for a specified letter.

Many applications of mathematics involve
relationships among two or more quantities. An
equation that represents such a relationship will use
two or more letters and is known as a formula.
 Example

Solve for r: d = rt.

Solution
d = rt We want this letter alone.
Dividing by t
d rt

t t
d t
 r
t t
d
r Simplifying
t
 Example

Solve for x: y = x + b.

Solution
y=x+b We want this letter alone.
y–b=x+b–b Subtracting b
y–b=x Simplifying
 Example

The formula C = d gives the circumference C of

a circle with diameter d. Solve for d.
Solution d

C = d
C d

 
C
d

2.5 APPLICATIONS OF PERCENT

a. Solve applied problems involving percent.

Key Word in Percent Translations
“Of” translates to “•” or “”.

“Is” translates to “=”.

“What number” or “what percent”

translates to any letter.

% translates to 1
" ", or "  0.01".
100
3 Types of Percent Problems
1. Finding the amount (the result of taking the percent)
Example: What is 25% of 60?
Translation: a = 0.25  60

2. Finding the base (the number you are taking the

percent of)
Example: 15 is 25% of what number?
Translation: 15 = 0.25  b

3. Finding the percent number (the percent itself)

Example: 15 is what percent of 60?
Translation: 15 = p  60
 Example

To complete her water safety course instruction,

Catherine must complete 45 hours of instruction. If she
has completed 75% of her requirement, how many hours
has Catherine completed?
Solution
Rewording: What is 75% of 45?
Translating: a = 0.75  45
a = 33.75
Catherine has completed 33.75 hours of instruction.
2.6 APPLICATIONS AND PROBLEM SOLVING

a. Solve applied problems by translating to

equations.
Five Steps for Problem Solving in
Algebra
1. Familiarize yourself with the problem
situation.
2. Translate the problem to an equation.
3. Solve the equation.
4. Check the answer in the original problem.
5. State the answer to the problem clearly.
 Example

A 480-in. piece of pipe is cut into two pieces. One piece

is three times the length of the other. Find the length of
each piece of pipe.
Solution
1. Familiarize. Make a drawing. Noting the lengths.
480 in

3x x
2. Translate. From the statement of the problem.
One piece is three times the length of the other the total is
480 inches.
x + 3x = 480
3. Solve.
x + 3x = 480
4x = 480
4 4
x = 120 inches
4. Check. Do we have an answer to the problem?
No, we need the lengths of both pieces of pipe.
If x = 120 the length of one piece
3x = the length of the other piece. 3(120) = 360 inches
Since 120 + 360 = 480 our answer checks.
5. State. One section of pipe is 120 inches and the other
section is 360 inches.
2.7 SOLVING INEQUALITIES

a. Determine whether a given number is a

solution of an inequality.
b. Graph an inequality on a number line.
c. Solve inequalities using the addition
principle.
d. Solve inequalities using the multiplication
principle.
e. Solve inequalities using the addition and
multiplication principles together.
Solutions of Inequalities

An inequality is a number sentence containing > (is

greater than), < (is less than),  (is greater than or
equal to), or  (is less than or equal to).

Solution of an Inequality
A replacement that makes an inequality true is called a
solution. The set of all solutions is called the solution
set. When we have found the set of all solutions of an
inequality, we say that we have solved the inequality.
 Example

Determine whether the given number is a solution

of x < 5: a) 4 b) 6

Solution
a) Since 4 < 5 is true, 4 is a solution.

b) Since 6 < 5 is false, 6 is not a solution.

Graphs of Inequalities

Because solutions of inequalities like x < 4 are too

numerous to list, it is helpful to make a drawing that
represents all the solutions.

The graph of an inequality is a drawing that represents

its solutions. Graphs of inequalities in one variable can
be drawn on a number line by shading all the points
that are solutions.
 Example

Graph each inequality:

a) x < 3, b) y  4; c) 3 < x  5
Solution
a) The solutions of x < 3 are those numbers less than 3.
Shade all points to the left of 3.
The parenthesis at 3 and the shading to the left
indicate that 3 is not part of the graph, but numbers like
1 and 2 are.
)
Solution
b) The solutions of y  4 are shown on the number
line by shading the point for 4 and all points to the
right of 4. The bracket at 4 indicates that 4 is
part of the graph.
[

c) The inequality 3 < x  5 is read “3 is less than x

and x is less than or equal to 5.”

( ]
 Example

Solve and graph each inequality:

a) 7 x  35 b) 4y < 20
Solution
a)
7 x  35
7 x 35
 Dividing by 7
7 7
The symbol stays the same.

x5 Simplifying

]
Solution
b) 4y < 20
4 y 20 Dividing both sides by 4

4 4
The symbol must be reversed!
y  5

The solution set is {y|y > 5}. The graph is shown

below.
(
 Example

Solve x + 6 > 2 and then graph the solution.

Solution
x+6>2
x+66>26
x > 4

Any number greater than 4 makes the statement true.

(
 Example Solve. 3x  3 > x + 7

3x  3 > x + 7
3x  3 + 3 > x + 7 + 3 Adding 3 to both sides

3x > x + 10 Simplifying

3x  x > x  x + 10 Subtracting x from both sides

2x > 10 Simplifying
2 x 10
 Dividing both sides by 2
2 2
x>5 Simplifying
The solution set is {x|x > 5}.
(
 Example Solve: 5(x  3)  7x  4(x  3) + 9

5(x  3)  7x  4(x  3) + 9
Using the distributive law to
5x  15  7x  4x  12 + 9 remove parentheses
2x  15  4x  3 Simplifying
2x  15 + 3  4x  3 + 3 Adding 3 to both sides
2x  12  4x Simplifying
2x + 2x  12  4x + 2x Adding 2x to both sides
12  6x
Dividing both sides by 6
2  x
The solution set is {x|x  2}.
]
 Example Solve. 15.4  3.2x < 6.76

15.4  3.2x < 6.76

100(15.4  3.2x) < 100(6.76)
100(15.4)  100(3.2x) < 100(6.76)
1540  320x < 676
320x < 676 1540
320x < 2216
2216
x
320 Remember to reverse
the symbol!
x > 6.925
The solution set is {x|x > 6.925}.
 APPLICATIONS AND PROBLEM SOLVING
2.8 WITH INEQUALITIES

Translate number sentences to inequalities.

Important Words Sample Sentence Translation
is at least Brian is at least 16 years old b  16
is at most At most 3 students failed the course s3
cannot exceed To qualify, earnings cannot exceed e  $5000
$5000
must exceed The speed must exceed 20 mph s > 20
is less than Nicholas is less than 60 lb. n < 60
is more than Chicago is more than 300 miles c > 300
away.
is between The movie is between 70 and 120 70 < m < 120
minutes.
no more than The calf weighs no more than 560 w  560
lb.
no less than Carmon scored no less than 9.4. c  9.4
Translating “at least” and “at most”
The quantity x is at least some amount q: x  q.
(If x is at least q, it cannot be less than q.)

The quantity x is at most some amount q: x  q.

(If x is at most q, it cannot be more than q.)