MATHEMATICS

SUPPORT CENTRE

Title: Linear equations.

Target: On completion of this worksheet you should be able to solve linear

equations, including those with fractions.

A linear equation is an equation where the More examples.

highest power of the variable (usually x) is one. 1.
4 − 3x = −5 [+ 3x]
Examples 4 = −5 + 3 x [+ 5]
3x+2=6 is a linear equation.
2x2+3x+1=8 is not a linear equation as the 9 = 3x [÷ 3]
highest power of x is two. 3 = x.

2.
The solution to an equation is the value(s) of
the variable that make the equation hold. x
=8 [× 2]
E.g. 2 is the solution of the equation 2x + 1 = 5, 2
since 2 × 2 + 1 = 5. x = 16.
Notice that not every value of x makes this
true. E.g. 2 × 3 + 1 ≠ 5.
3.
3x  3x 
x x 1 5 8− =5 + 2 
2

8 =5+
3x
[− 5]
2
When we solve a linear equation it helps to
consider the equation as a set of balanced 3=
3x
[× 2]
2
scales. The two sides are equal. To retain the 6 = 3x [÷ 3]
balance we can
• Add the same amount to both sides. 2 = x.
• Subtract the same amount from both sides.
• Multiply both sides by the same amount.
Exercise. Solve the following:
• Divide both sides by the same amount.
1. 3a = 12.
2. x + 3 = 7.
Clearly to find what x is we want to end up
3. b – 2 = 5
with just x on one side of the scales.
b
4. = 4.
Example. Solve the following. 3
2x + 1 = 5 [− 1] 5. 2a + 5 =9.
6. 5a – 3 = 22.
2x = 4 [÷ 2] x
x = 2. 7. 11 − = 7.
4
Here the square brackets contain the operation (Answers: 4, 4, 7, 12, 2, 5, 16.)
that we are doing to both sides of the equation.

C. Leech, Coventry University, June 2000.

When the equation contains more than one Exercise. Solve the following equations.
term involving the variable, e.g. 3x+2=10-x, we 1. 4(g + 1) = 8.
should first try to get all the terms involving x 2. 3(b – 1) –2(3b – 2)=4.
on the same side of the equation. 3. 4(x + 3) = 2(x – 3) + 10.
The same rules apply; we do the same to both 4. 4(a - 5) = 7 – 5(3 – 2a).
sides.  x
Examples. 5. 6 5 −  = 3(11 + x) − 9.
 2
1.
3x + 2 = 6 x − 4 [− 3x]  2x  x 
6. 3 + 2  = 4 + 1.
2 = 3x − 4 [+ 4]  5  5 
6 = 3x [÷ 3] (Answers: 1, -1, -4, -2, 1, -5)
2 = x.

2.
9 x + 7 = −5 − 3 x [+ 3x] Fractions in linear equations can cause
confusion. It is often helpful to multiply both
12 x + 7 = −5 [− 7] sides of the equation by the denominator of
12 x = −12 [÷ 12] the fraction (to get rid of the fractions), and
x = −1. then use brackets to avoid mistakes.
Examples.
Exercise. Solve the following: 1.
1. 5b – 25 = 3b - 11. x
= 6− x [× 2]
2. 15 + 3x = 10 - 2x. 2
3. 7 - 3x = 2 - x. x = 2(6 − x )
x
4. 4 − = 1 + x. x = 12 − 2 x [+ 2 x]
2
3x
3 x = 12 [÷ 3]
5. 10 − = 2 x − 4. x = 4.
2
2.
x − 3 2x + 4
(Answers: 7, -1, 2.5, 2, 4). = [× 2]
2 5
2(2 x + 4)
x−3= [× 5]
5
If there are brackets in the linear equation then 5( x − 3) = 2(2 x + 4)
we should expand the brackets and simplify 5 x − 15 = 4 x + 8 [− 4 x]
before beginning to solve the equation. x − 15 = 8 [+ 15]
Example.
x = 23.
2( y + 3) = 5( y − 1) − 7( y − 3)
2 y + 6 = 5 y − 5 − 7 y + 21 Exercise. Solve the following equations.
2 y + 6 = −2 y + 16 [+ 2 y ] 1.
7x
= 10 − 2 x.
4 y + 6 = 16 [− 6] 5
3x 2 x
4 y = 10 [÷ 4] 2.
5
−
3
= −3.

y=
10 5
= . 3 x − 5 5 x + 10
4 2 3. = .
4 3
p+3 p+4 1
4. = − .
4 3 4
2u + 3 3u − 4 1
5. − − 1 = − u.
5 4 3

C. Leech, Coventry University, June 2000. (Answers: 50/17, 45, -5, -4, 36).