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Stepsforsolvingequations

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9 views2 pages

Stepsforsolvingequations

Uploaded by

roselma.latip2k20
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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SOLVING EQUATIONS

An equation is a mathematical statement that two expressions are equal. The solution of an equation
is the value that when substituted for the variable makes the equation a true statement.

Our goal in solving an equation is to isolate the variable on one side of the equation and a number on
the other side so the equation reads:

Variable = Number

To achieve our goal, we use two principles of equality, the addition principle and the multiplication
principle.

• Use the addition principle to move terms from one side of the equation to the other side. To
move a term, add it's opposite to both sides of the equation.

• Use the multiplication principle to solve for the variable. If the variable is multiplied by a
number, divide both sides of the equation by that number. If the variable is divided by a
number, multiply both sides of the equation by that number.

To solve equations, use the procedure outlined below.

Steps for Solving Equations

Step 1: Clear fractions and decimals by multiplying each term of the equation by the LCD (least
common denominator).

Step 2: Remove the parentheses by distributing.

Step 3: Combine any like terms found on the same side.

Step 4: Use the addition principle to move the variable term to one side of the equation and the
number to the other side.

Step 5: Multiply or divide to solve for the variable.

Step 6: Check the result in the original equation.

EXAMPLE 1: Solve 5(4t – 14) – 7 = 63

Solution: To solve the equation, begin by removing the parentheses. Check:


?
5 ( 4t − 14 ) − 7 = 63 ← distribute 5 to remove the parentheses 5 ( 4 ( 7 ) − 14 ) − 7 = 63
20t − 70 − 7 = 63 ← combine −70 and −7 ?
5 ( 28 − 14 ) − 7 = 63
20t − 77 = 63
?
+ 77 + 77 ← add 77 to both sides to isolate the variable term 5 (14 ) − 7 = 63
20t = 140 70 − 7 = 63
20t 140
= ← divide both sides by 20 to solve for the variable
20 20
t=7

PBCC 1 SLC Lake Worth Math Lab


Example 2: Solve 5y – (2y + 7) = 4 − 5(2y – 3)

Solution: Begin by removing the parentheses. Then simplify by combing like terms.

5y − ( 2y + 7 ) = 4 − 5 ( 2y − 3 ) ← distribute the negative on the left and − 5 on the right


5y − 2y − 7 = 4 − 10y + 15 ← combine the like terms on the same side
3y − 7 = 19 − 10y
+10y +10y ← add 10y to both sides to move the variable term to the left
13y − 7 = 19
+7 +7 ← add 7 to both sides to move the number to the right
13y = 26
13y 26
= ← divide both sides by 13 to solve for the variable
13 13
y=2

2 1 2
EXAMPLE 3: Solve: x+4= x−
3 2 3
Solution: To clear the fractions, multiply each term by the LCD 6.

2 1 2
x+4= x−
3 2 3
2  2  3  1  2  2 
6 • x + 6 • 4 = 6 • x − 6 •  ← multiply each term by the LCD 6
3   2   3 
 1   1   1
4x + 24 = 3x − 4
− 3x − 3x ← move the variable term to one side by adding − 3x to both sides
x + 24 = −4
− 24 − 24 ← move the number to the other side by adding − 24 to both sides
x = −28

EXAMPLE 4: Solve 0.04n + 0.14(800 – n) = 0.4n

Solution: To clear the decimals, multiply each term by the LCD 100.

uur ( 800 − n ) = 0.4uu0r n


uur + 0.14
0.04n ← move the decimal points 2 places to the right
4n + 14 ( 800 − n ) = 40n ← distribute 14 to remove the parentheses
4n + 11200 − 14n = 40n ← combine 4n and −14n
11200 − 10n = 40n
+10n +10n ← add 10n to both sides to isolate the variable term
11200 = 50n
11200 50n
= ← divide both sides by 50 to solve for the variable
50 50
224 = n

PBCC 2 SLC Lake Worth Math Lab

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