Equations

An equation is any mathematical statement

that contains an = sign.
6 x 4 = 24 6 + 4 = 10
5–9= –4 8 + 4 = 15 – 3
27  3 = 9 y + 4 = 10
are all examples of
2a + 4 = 12
equations!
If we begin with a true equation

9 + 6 = 15
We can do anything we like (add, multiply,
subtract or divide) to the numbers on
either side of the = sign as long as we do
the same thing to both sides!
Begin with a true statement
9 + 6 = 15
Add 3 to both sides
9 + 6 + 3 = 15 + 3 18 = 18 still true!

Subtract 8 from both sides

9 + 6 – 8 = 15 – 8 7=7 still true!

Multiply both sides by 5

(9 + 6) x 5 = 15 x 5 75 = 75
still true!
Divide both sides by 3
(9 + 6)  3 = 15  3 5=5
still true!
 This is a very useful process when there is
an unknown (like x) on one side, and we wish
to isolate it to solve the equation.

Solve x – 9 = 5
We want x on its own on the left of the
= sign, so we aim to get rid of the – 9.
The opposite of – 9 is + 9, so we ADD 9
to both sides
x–9+9=5+9

ZERO!
x =5+9 x = 14
Example 1: Solve y – 5 = – 3
We need to remove the 5 by “undoing” the
minus. The opposite of minus is add, so we
ADD 5 to both sides :
y–5 +5 =–3 +5
We can now cancel the 5s on the left side,
and at the same time work out – 3 + 5

y=2
Example 2: Solve 5y = 30
As this is really 5 times y = 30, to isolate the
y we need to remove the 5 by “undoing” the
times. The opposite of times is divide, so we
DIVIDE both sides by 5:
5 y 30

5 5
We can now cancel the 5s on the left side,
and at the same time work out 30 ÷ 5

y=6
Example 3: Solve y/3 = 12
As this is really y divided by 3 = 12, we need
to remove the 3 by “undoing” the divide. The
opposite of divide is multiply, so we
MULTIPLY both sides by 3:
y
x3  12 x3
3

We can now cancel the 3s on the left side,

and at the same time work out 12 x 3

y = 36
EXAMPLE 4: Solve 3y + 5 = 26
To get x alone, first we need to remove the 5,
then the 3. Begin by taking 5 from both sides

3y + 5 – 5 = 26 – 5
ZERO
3y = 21
Now we divide both sides by 3
3 y 21

3 3
Cancel the 3s on the left side

y=7
And now for a really useful trick!
Suppose we begin with 8 – 3 = 5
You’re allowed to change all the signs (the sign
in front of every term)

–8 +3 = –5

Still true!

Try this for 2 – 9 – 5 = – 12

and get – 2 + 9 + 5 = + 12

Still true!
But remember you must change ALL the signs
This trick is really useful in equations where
there is a negative in front of the letter!
Solve – a + 7 = 12
Change all the signs

a – 7 = – 12
Now add 7 to both sides, as before
a – 7 + 7 = – 12 + 7

and get
a=–5
Now check to see you’re right by substituting
a = – 5 into the original equation
– – 5 + 7 = 12 TRUE!
Example 6
Solve 5 – 2a = – 9
Change all the signs as the “a” has a minus in
front

– 5 + 2a = 9
Now add 5 to both sides, as before
– 5 + 2a + 5 = 9 + 5
2a = 14
a=7
Now check to see you’re right by substituting
a = 7 into the original equation
5 – 2 x 7 = – 9 TRUE!
 a
Solve 7
4

Since this is the same as a  4 = 7,

we do the opposite of divide, i.e.
multiply by 4
a
x4 = 7 x4
4
Cancel the 4s on the left

a = 28
 Example 8:
7  3a
Solve 6
5
First we multiply by 5 to get rid of the fraction
7  3a
x 5  6x 5
5
Cancel the 5s on the left
7 – 3a = 30
Seeing there’s a minus in front of the a, we can
change all signs
– 7 + 3a = – 30
Add 7 to both sides
– 7 + 3a + 7 = – 30 + 7
3a = – 23
Divide both sides by 3
a = – 7.667
 Example 9:
3a
Solve 4 6
5
First we subtract 4 from both sides
3a
4  – 44  6 –44
5
Cancel the 4s on the left
3a
2
5
Multiply both sides by 5
3a = 10
Divide both sides by 3
a = 10/3
 Example 10:
2a
Solve 9  4
7
Sign change 2a
9 4
7
Add 9 to both sides
2a
 13
7
Multiply both sides by 7
2a = 91

Divide both sides by 2

a = 45.5
 Example 11……….

Solve 2(x – 5) = 15

Expand the brackets

2x – 10 = 15
Add 10 to both sides
2x – 10 + 10 = 15 + 10
2x = 25
Divide both sides by 2
x = 25/2 or 12.5
Example 12……….
Solve 2(x – 5) + 3(2x + 1) = 28

Expand the brackets

2x – 10 + 6x + 3 = 28
Clean up left side
8x – 7 = 28
Add 7 to both sides
8x – 7 + 7 = 28 + 7
8x = 35
Divide both sides by 8
x = 35/8 or 4.375
Equations with an unknown on both sides
Example 13 Solve 3a – 5 = a + 11
The aim is to get the a on one side only, so try
taking a from both sides:
3a – 5 – a = a + 11 – a
What happens to the right-hand side?
3a – 5 – a = a + 11 – a Back at the start, we
could have taken 3a from
2a – 5 = 11 both sides instead of just
a. This would have given
Add 5 to both sides – 5 = 11 – 2a
2a – 5 + 5 = 11 + 5 and then proceed as usual!
2a = 16
Divide both sides by 2
a=8
Equations with an unknown on both sides
Example
Solve 9 – a = 12 + 3a
14
The aim is to get only one term with a.
So try adding a to both sides:
9 - a + a = 12 + 3a + a
What happens to the left-hand side?
9 – a + a = 12 + 3a + a
9 = 12 + 4a
Take 12 from both sides
9 – 12 = 12 + 4a – 12
– 3 = 4a
Divide both sides by 4
a=–¾
Equations with fractions on both sides
Example 3x  1 2  x
15 Solve 
3 4
Multiply both sides by the LCD, 12. This kills the fractions.
Put brackets around the numerators.
(3 x  1) 124 (2  x) 12 3
  
3 1 4 1
Cancel
4(3x + 1) = 3(2 – x)
Expand
12x + 4 = 6 – 3x
15x = 2
x = 2/15
Equations with fractions on both sides
Example 3(4  2 x) 5  x
16 Solve 
5 4
Multiply both sides by the LCD, 20.
This kills the fractions
3(4  2 x) 20 5  x 20
  
5 1 4 1
Cancel and make sure brackets are around numerators
4 × 3(4 – 2x) =5(5 - x)
Expand
48 – 24x = 25 – 5x
23 = 19x
x = 23/19
 x+5
Example 17
A rectangular field is 5m
x
longer than it is wide
Its perimeter is 200m.
Find its dimensions (width and length).
Key Strategy ….. Always let x equal the smallest part
So, Let x equal the width.
So the length is… x + 5 and So the width is
47.5m
The four sides total to 200………….. Length is 47.5 + 5 =
52.5m
x + x + x + 5 + x + 5 = 200
4x + 10 = 200 Instead of writing x + 5
twice, you could have
4x = 190 written 2(x + 5). This
Finally make sure x = 47.5
becomes 2x + 10 when you
get rid of the brackets!
they add to 200
 x + 12
Example 18
Another rectangular field is
x
12m longer than it is wide
Its perimeter is 1km.
Find its dimensions (width and length).

Let x equal the width.

So the length is… x + 12 and So the width is

244m
The four sides total to 1000………….. Length is 244 + 12 =
256m
4x + 24 = 1000
4x = 976 Finally make sure
x = 244 they add to 1000
Example 19

Find the value of x in this diagram

(7x – 4)º As these are co-interior,

they are supplementary and
(4x – 3)º so must add to 180º

It is wise to check
4x – 3 + 7x – 4 = 180 your answer by
substituting 17 into
Clean up left side
both angles and seeing
11x – 7 = 180 that they add to 180.
Add 7 to both sides 7 x 17 – 4 = 115
11x = 187 4 x 17 – 3 = 65
Divide both sides by 11
115 + 65 = 180, so
x = 17 we’re correct!
 Example 18
Find the value of b in this isosceles triangle

(b – 7 )º As it’s isosceles, the other bottom

angle must also be (2b + 1)

The three angles add to 180, so…..

(2b + 1)º (2b + 1)º
Now check your answer
by substituting 37 into
b – 7 + 2(2b + 1) = 180 the 3 angles and seeing
b – 7 + 4b + 2 = 180 Expanding brackets
that they add to 180.

5b – 5 = 180 Cleaning
37 – 7up
= 30
left side
2 x 37
5b = 185 Adding + 1both
5 to = 75 sides

b = 37 Dividing
30 + 2both
x 75 = 180,
sides by 5
so we’re correct!
 Example 19
Jimmy, Mary and Joseph have $24 between them.
Mary has twice the amount Jimmy has.
Joseph has $3.25 more than Mary.
How much do they each have?
Key Strategy ….. Always let x equal the smallest share
So, Let x equal Jimmy’s amount as he has the least.
So Mary has……… 2x and So Jimmy has
$4.15
Joseph has………. 2x + 3.25
Mary has 2 x $4.15 =
Now we know they total to 24………….. $8.30
x + 2x + 2x + 3.25 = 24
5x + 3.25 = 24 Joseph has
5x = 20.75 $8.30 + $3.25
Finally make sure x = 4.15 = $11.55
they add to $24
Example 20
Mary is twice as old as John, and 4 years younger
than Peter. The sum of their ages is 159. How old
are they?

Let the youngest (John) be x.

So Mary’s age is 2x
& Peter’s age is 2x + 4
Now we add them up, knowing it will equal 159.

x + 2x + 2x + 4 = 159 So John is 31
5x + 4 = 159 Mary is 2 x 31 = 62
– 4 from both sides 5x = 155 Peter is 62 + 4 = 66
divide both sides by 5 x = 31
Example 21

2x
2x – 3

+1
x+5
The isosceles triangle and the square have the
same perimeter. Find x as a mixed numeral
Triangle’s perimeter Square’s perimeter
= x + 5 + 2(2x + 1) = 4(2x - 3)
= x + 5 + 4x + 2 = 8x - 12
= 5x + 7
5x + 7 = 8x – 12 19 = 3x
5x + 7 – 5x = 8x – 12 – 5x 1
7 = 3x – 12 x6
7 + 12 = 3x – 12 + 12 3
Twins Bessie and Albert have a brother, Marmaduke, 8
years older than they are, and they have a sister, Sylvia,
who is 12 years younger than they are. Together their
ages add to 168. Use algebra to find the twins’ ages.

Let the twins’ ages be x.

Marmaduke is x + 8.
x + x + x + 8 + x – 12 = 168
Sylvia is x – 12. 4x – 4 = 168
4x = 168 + 4
4x = 172
The twins are 43!
x = 43
Also, Marmaduke is 51, Sylvia is 31
 2(3a – 5)
If his width is (3a – 5)
then his length is twice
(3a – 5)

2(3a – 5)
(3a – 5)cm that, so must be 2(3a – 5).
This means all sides must
total 6(3a – 5)

Robbie the rectangle is twice as long as he

is wide. His perimeter is 294 cm.
Calculate his dimensions and his area.

6(3a – 5) = 294 Width = 49cm

18a – 30 = 294 Length = 98cm
18a = 324 Area: 49 x 98 = 4802cm2
a = 18
 Archibald, Muriel and Oswald come across a
bag of 95 marbles. They divide them up in
such a way that Muriel has 50% more than
Archibald, and Oswald has five fewer than
Archibald and Muriel combined. How many
does each have?

Let x be Archibald’s share x + 1.5x + 2.5x – 5 = 95

So Muriel’s share is 1.5x 5x – 5 = 95
Oswald’s share is x + 1.5x – 5 5x = 100
= x = 20
2.5x – 5
Archie has 20, Muriel 30 and Ossie 45
 Example 25
3x + 2 The perimeter of this
shape is 176 cm. Find
And so is this 2x - 6 the value of x
side also
2x - 6
x + 14
20 – x

5x - 4
This side is 5x – 4 – (3x + 2)
So this side has to = 5x – 4 – 3 x – 2
be 20 – x + 2x – 6 = 2x - 6
= x + 14
Now add up all the sides!
12x + 20 = 176
12x = 156 X= 13
Example 26

Attila, Otto, Peregrine and Ugly are cousins.

Peregrine is two decades younger than Ugly, and

Peregrine’s age is 80% of Attila’s age. Otto, the
eldest, is 26 years younger than the total of
Attila’s and Peregrine’s ages.

Their ages total eight less than four times Ugly’s

age. How old are they?
Try letting Attila’s age = x, only because it says
“Peregrine’s age is 80% of Attila’s age” making it
easy to write Peregrine’s age as 0.8x.

So…..

Let Attila’s age = x

Peregrine’s age = 0.8x
Ugly’s age = Peregrine’s age + 20
= 0.8x + 20
Otto’s age = Attila + Peregrine - 26
= x + 0.8x – 26
= 1.8x – 26
Their ages total eight less than four times Ugly’s age.
Attila = x
Peregrine = 0.8x
Ugly = 0.8x + 20
Otto = 1.8x – 26

x + 0.8x + 0.8x + 20 + 1.8x – 26 = 4(0.8x + 20) - 8

4.4x - 6 = 3.2x + 80 - 8
Attila is 65 1.2x = 78
Peregrine is 52 x = 65
Ugly is 72
Otto is 91
 Example 27
Little Jimmy has a number of 10c and 20c coins in his piggybank.
His 29 coins total to $4.10,
How many of each kind of coin does he have?

Let x be the number of 10 cent coins.

Then, since there are 29 coins altogether, we can let the number of 20c coins
be

29 – x .
 so we now have that there are….

• x coins each valued at 10c, and…

• (29 – x) coins each valued at 20c

The x coins each valued at 10 cents must be worth a total of 10x

and the (29 – x) coins each valued at 20 cents must be worth a total of

20(29 – x)
We know these values total to 410, so

10x + 20(29 – x) = 410

Expand 
10x + 580 – 20x = 410
Clean up  580 – 10x = 410
 – 10x = 410 – 580
Clean up  – 10x = – 170
Divide by – 10  x = 17
Remember, x was the number of 10 cent coins, so
there are 17 ten-cent coins. There were 29 coins
altogether, so there must be (29 – x) i.e.29 – 17 = 12
twenty-cent coins!

Number of 10c = 17
Number of 20c = 12
Finally, check that 17 x 10 + 12 x 20 = 410
Example 28 – This uses FACTORISING

The diagram represents a path enclosing a park.

The curved section is a quadrant of a circle, radius r m.
The longest side is twice the width of the park. The
perimeter is 1km. Calculate the area of the park in m2

Circumference of a circle Area of a circle

C = 2π r A = π r2
 r
¼ x 2πr
r r

r r
We set up an equation for the perimeter….

Left side + top + bottom + quadrant = 1000m


r + r + 2r + 2 r = 1000m r = 179.50755m

4r + 2
r = 1000m

Area = ¼ π r 2
+ r 2

 4  r  1000
2
Factorising!

1000
r
Area = 57531 sq metres  
4  
 2