BUSINESS

MATHEMATICS
(BBQT 1013)
Chapter 3 :
Equations
 LEARNING OUTCOME
In the end of this chapter, students will be able to:
1.Solve equations using multiplication or division.
2.Solve equations using addition or subtraction.
3.Solve equations using more than one operation.
4.Solve equations containing multiple unknown terms.
5.Solve equations containing parentheses.
6.Solve equations that are proportions.
7.Use the problem-solving approach to analyze and solve
word problems.
 EQUATION
 An equation is a mathematical statement in which
two quantities are equal.
 Solving an equation means finding the value
of an unknown.
Example:

8x = 24
To solve this equation, the
value of x must be discovered.
Division is used to solve this equation.
 EQUATION
Letters, such as (x,y,z) represent
unknown amounts and are called
unknowns or variables.

4x = 16
The numbers are called
known or given amounts.
 EQUATION
Any operation performed on one side of the
equation must be performed on the other side of the
equation as well.
– If you “multiply by 2” on one side, you must
“multiply by 2” on the other side.
– If you “divide by 3” on one side, you must also
“divide by 3” on the other side.
– etc
 SOLVE EQUATIONS USING
MULTIPLICATION OR DIVISION
8x = 24
STEP 1
Isolate the unknown value and determine
if multiplication or division is needed.

STEP 2
Use division to divide both sides by 8.
STEP 3
Simplify: x = 3 3 x 8 = 24
FIND THE VALUE OF AN
UNKNOWN USING
MULTIPLICATION
a
Find the value of a: =6
3
Multiply both sides by 3 to isolate a.
The left side becomes 1a or a.
The right side becomes the
product of 6 x 3, or 18.

a = 18
 EXAMPLE
2b = 40
STEP 1
Determine which operation is needed.
Division

STEP 2
Perform the same operation to both sides.
Divide both sides by 2.

STEP 3
40
Isolate the variable and solve. b= = 20
2
 EXERCISE
1. Solve for A: 3 A  24

B
2. Solve for B: 8
6
 SOLVE EQUATIONS USING
ADDITION OR SUBTRACTION
 Adding or subtracting any number from one side
must be carried out on the other side as well.
– Subtract “the given amount” from both sides.

Would solving 4 + x = 16 require addition

or subtraction of “4” from each side?
Subtraction
 EXAMPLE
4 + x = 10
STEP 1
Isolate the unknown value and determine
if addition or subtraction is needed.

STEP 2
Use subtraction to isolate x.

STEP 3
Simplify: x = 6
 EXAMPLE
b - 12 = 8
STEP 1
Determine which operation is needed.
Addition

STEP 2
Perform the same operation to both sides.
Add 12 to both sides

STEP 3
Isolate the variable and solve. b = 8 + 12 = 20
 EXERCISE
Solve for the variable.
a) A  12  20

b) 15  A  3

c) N  7  10

d) 28  M  5
 SOLVE EQUATIONS USING
MORE THAN ONE
OPERATION
 Isolate the unknown value.
– Add or subtract as necessary first.
– Multiply or divide as necessary second.
 Identify the solution.
– The number on the side opposite the unknown.
 Check the solution by “plugging in” the
number using the original equation.
 To solve an equation, undo the operations, working in reverse
order
– First — undo the addition or subtraction.
– Second — undo multiplication or division.
 EXAMPLE
7x + 4 = 39
STEP 1
Undo the addition by subtracting 4 from each side.
7x = 35

STEP 2 35
Divide each side by 7. x= =5
7
STEP 3
Verify by plugging in 5 in place of x .
7 (5) + 4 = 39 35 + 4 = 39
 EXERCISE
Solve:

a) 5N  7  13
B
b) 22
8
c) A
12   8
5
 SOLVE EQUATIONS
CONTAINING MULTIPLE
UNKNOWN TERMS
 In some equations, the unknown value may
occur more than once.
 The simplest instance is when the unknown
value occurs in two addends, such as 3a + 2a =
25
– Add the numbers in each addend (2+3).
– Multiply the sum by the unknown (5a = 25).
– Solve for a (a = 5).
 EXAMPLE
Find a if: a + 4a – 5 = 30
STEP 1
Combine the unknown value addends.
a + 4a = 5a 5a – 5 = 30

STEP 2 STEP 3
Undo the subtraction. Undo the multiplication.
5a = 35 a=7
STEP 4
Check by replacing a with 7. Correct!
7 + 4(7) = 35
 EXERCISE
Solve:

a) 6B  2B  7  13

b) 7  3B  2B  17

c) 5 A  3  2 A  18
 SOLVE EQUATIONS
CONTAINING PARENTHESES
 Eliminate the parentheses.
– Multiply the number just outside the
parentheses
by each addend inside the parentheses.
– Show the resulting products as addition or
subtraction, as indicated
 Solve the resulting equation.
 EXAMPLE
Solve: 6(A + 2) = 24
STEP 1
Multiply 6 by each addend.
6 multiplied by A + 6 multiplied by 2

STEP 2
Show the resulting products.
6A + 12 = 24
STEP 3
Check by replacing a with 2.
6(2 + 2) = 24
 EXAMPLE

5 (x - 2) = 45
TIP: Remove the parentheses first.
5x -10 = 45
5x = 55
x = 11
 EXERCISE
Solve:

a) 3(N  30)  45

b) 30  6(2 A  3)
SOLVE EQUATIONS THAT ARE
PROPORTIONS
 A proportion is based on two pairs of related
quantities.
 The most common way to write proportions is
to use fraction notation—also called a ratio.
– When two ratios are equal, they form a proportion.
SOLVE EQUATIONS THAT ARE
PROPORTIONS
 A cross product is the product of the numerator of
one fraction, times the denominator of another
fraction.
– An important property of proportions is that the cross
products are equal.
 HOW TO VERIFY THAT TWO
FRACTIONS FORM A
4
PROPORTION
6
Do and form a proportion?
12 18
STEP 1
Multiply the numerator from the first fraction by the denominator of the second fraction.

4 x 18 = 72

STEP 2
Multiply the denominator of the first fraction by the numerator of the second
fraction.

6 x 12 = 72

Are they equal? Yes, they form a proportion.

 EXERCISE
5 3
1. Which of the fractions or is proportional
to 20 ? 7 4
28
2. Solve:

3 N
a) 
4 8
b) 5 15

12 N
 USE THE PROBLEM-SOLVING
APPROACH
TO ANALYZE AND SOLVE WORD
PROBLEMS
 Five step problem solving approach:
– What you know.
• Known or given facts.
– What you are looking for.
• Unknown or missing amounts.
– Solution Plan.
• Equation or relationship among known/unknown
facts.
– Solution.
• Solve the equation.
– Conclusion.
• Solution interpreted within context of problem.
 USE THE PROBLEM-SOLVING
APPROACH
TO ANALYZE AND SOLVE
WORD
These words help youPROBLEMS
interpret the information and
begin to set up the equation to solve the problem.

“of” often implies multiplication.

Example:
“¼ of her salary” means “multiply her salary by ¼”
 EXAMPLE
Full-time employees at Charlie’s Steakhouse work more hours
per day than part-time employees. If the difference of working
hours is 4 hours per day, and if part-timers work 6 hours per
day, how many hours per day do full-timers work?
 SOLUTION
What are we looking for?
Number of hours that FT employees work.
What do we know?
PT employees work 6 hours, and the
difference between FT and PT is 4 hours.

We also know that

Set up a solution plan. “difference” implies
FT – PT = 4 subtraction.
FT = N [unknown] PT = 6 hours
N–6=4 Conclusion:
Solution plan: N = 4 + 6 = 10 Full time employees
work 10 hours.
 EXAMPLE
Jill has three times as many trading cards as Matt. If the
total number both have is 200, how many does Jill have?
1. What are you looking for?
The number of cards that Jill has.
2. What do you know?
The relationship in the number of cards is 3:1; total is 200
3. Set up a solution plan.
x(Matt’s) + 3x(Jill’s) = 200
4. Solve it.
x + 3x = 200; 4x = 200; x = 50
5. Draw the conclusion.
Jill has 3x, or 150 cards
 EXAMPLE
1
Wanda plans to save of her salary each week.
10
If her weekly salary is $350, how much will she be save each
week?
 EXAMPLE
Diane’s Card Shop spent a total of $950 ordering 600 cards
from Wit’s End Co., whose humorous cards cost $1.75 each
and whose nature cards cost $1.50 each. How many of each
style of card did the card shop order?
 EXERCISE
Denise ordered 75 dinners for the awards banquet. Fish
dinners cost $11.75 and chicken dinners cost $9.25 each. If she
spent a total of $756.25, how many of each type of dinner did
she order?
 EXERCISE
In planning for a conference on Successful Small Business
Practices, the organizers are anticipating that twice as many
men as women will attend the conference. If they are
expecting 600 to attend the conference, how many men and
how many women are likely to attend?
 PROPORTIONS
 The relationship between two factors is often described
in proportions.
– You can use proportions to solve for unknowns.
 EXAMPLE
The label on a container of weed killer gives directions to mix
three ounces of weed killer with every two gallons of water.
For five gallons of water, how many ounces of weed killer
should you use?
1. What are you looking for?
Number of ounces of weed killer needed for 5 gallons of water.
2. What do you know?
For every 2 gallons of water, you need 3 oz. of weed killer.
2 5
Set up a solution plan. = Conclusion.
3 x
You need 7.5 oz of weed
Solve it.
killer for 5 gal of water.
Cross multiply: 2x = 15; x = 7.5
 EXAMPLE
Your car gets 23 miles to the gallon.
How far can you go on 16 gallons of gas?

1 gallon 16 gallons
=
23 miles x miles
Cross multiply: 1x = 368 miles
Conclusion:
You can travel 368 miles on 16 gallons of gas.

In this example, an increase in the amount of gas would

directly and proportionately increase the mileage yielded.
 EXERCISE
The label on a container of concentrated weed killer gives
directions to mix 3 ounces of weed killer with every 2 gallons
of water. For 5 gallons of water, how many ounces of weed
killer should you use?
 EXERCISE
An inventory clerk is expected to have 2,000 fan belts in
stock. If the current count is 1,584 fan belts, how many more
should be ordered?
 EXERCISE
Wallpaper costs $12.97 per roll and a kitchen requires 9 rolls.
What is the cost of the wallpaper needed to paper the kitchen?
 EXERCISE
If 5 dozen roses can be purchased for $62.50, how much will 8
dozen cost?
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