B.

Linear
Equations in
One Variable
A. Understanding Linear Equations in One

Variable
Linear algebraic terms
A linear algebraic term is a term with only one unknown which is raised
to the power of 1.
For example, and are linear algebraic terms.

Example 1:
Determine whether each of the following terms is a linear algebraic
term.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Solution:
(a)  a linear algebraic term
(b)  not a linear algebraic term (the unknown y is raised to the
power of 2)
(c)  a linear algebraic term
(d)  not a linear algebraic term (there are two unknowns,
p and q)
 Linear algebraic expressions
A linear algebraic expression is a combination of two or more linear
algebraic terms by addition or subtraction.
For example, and are linear algebraic expressions.

Example 2:
Determine whether each of the following is a linear algebraic
expression.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Solution:
(a)  a linear algebraic expression
(b)  a linear algebraic expression
(c)  not a linear algebraic expression (p is raised to the power of 3)
(d)  not a linear algebraic expression (xy is not a linear term)
 Linear equations
A linear equation is an equation which contains one or more linear
terms. If a linear equation has only one variable, then the equation is a
linear equation in one variable.
For example, and are linear equations in one variable.

Example 3:
Determine whether each of the following is a linear equation. Hence,
determine whether it is a linear equation in one variable.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
Solution:
(a)  a linear equation in one variable
(b)  not a linear equation ( is not a linear term)
(c)  a linear equation in one variable
(d)  a linear equation in more than one variable (two variables,
p and q)
(e)  a linear equation in one variable
(f)  a linear equation in more than one variable (two variables,
x and y)
 B. Writing Linear Equation in One Variable
A linear equation in one unknown can be written based on the
information given and vice versa.

Example 1:
Write a linear equation for each of the following situations.
(a) When 9 is subtracted from a number x, the result is 8.
(b) Julie bought a book which cost $12 and y pens which cost $3 each.
She paid a total of $84.

MATH TIPS
 Identify the variable for the given situation.
 Represent the variable by using a suitable letter if
required.
 Form a linear equation in one variable by using that
Solution:
(a) x-9=8
(b) Cost of a book= $12
Cost of y pens=$3y
= $3y
Total cost=$(12+3y)=$84
12+3y=84
Example 2:
Describe the situation in each of the following linear equations.
(a) where x represents a number.
(b) where y represents the cost of one badge in $.
Solution:
(a) The sum of a number x and 5 is 11.
(b) The total cost of 8 badges which cost $y each is $72
Example 3:
From a linear equation in one variable for each of the following.
(a) m marbles are divided equally among 7 people where each of them
received 12 marbles.
(b) Suzana scored b marks in a test whereas Aliff scored 15 marks less than
Suzana. Their total score was 127.
(c) When a number is added to 6, the sum is 16.
Solution:

(d) b+(b-15)=127
(e) Let x be the number.
x+6=16
 Let’s Practice:
1) Determine whether each of the following equations is a linear equation.

2) Determine whether each of the following equations is a linear equation in one variable.
 Let’s Practice:
3) Write a linear equation for each of the following, using to represent the variable.
a) The sum of a number and 13 is 15.
b) 8 times a number is 144.
c) 5 is subtracted from a number and then the difference is divided by 3. The result is 18.
d) The difference between x and 4 is 11, given that x is greater than 4.
e) A rectangle has a length of x cm and a width of 5cm. The perimeter of the rectangle is 32cm.
C. Solving Linear Equations
in One Variable
A. Determine if a numerical value is a solution of a
given linear equation in one variable
A numerical value is the solution of a given linear equation in one variable
if the value satisfies the equation. The solution of a linear equation is also
known as the root of the equation.
There are three method to solve a linear equation in one variable, namely:
 Trial and improvement method
 Application of equality concept
 Backtracking method
Example 1:
Solve the linear equation 4x+3=11 by using
(a) trial and improvement method,
(b) application of equality concept,
(c) backtracking method.
Solution:
(d)Try x=1
Left hand side, 4x+3=4(1)+3=4+3=7 
Thus, x = 1 is not the solution for the given equation.
Try x=2
Left hand side, 4x+3=4(2)+3=8+3=11
Thus, x=2 is the solution for the given equation.
Solution:
(b) 4x+3=11
4x+3-3=11-3
4x=8

Thus, x=2.
(c) Let x be the initial value and 11 be the final value. Observe the mathematical
operation:
x   +3  =11
Backtracking method:
x   -3  =11
Therefore, the value of x can be written as
11-3=8  84=2
Example 2:
Determine whether
(a) 8 is a solution of the equation x-5=3,
(b) 7 is a solution of the equation 3+2x=19

Solution:
(c) Substitute x=8 into the left-hand side (LHS) of the equation.
x-5=8-5
=3
LHS=RHS=3
Therefore, 8 is the solution of x-5=3
(b) Substitute x=7 into the left-hand side (LHS) of the equation.
3+2x=3+2(7)=3+14
=17
LHSRHS
Therefore, 7 is not the solution of 3+2x=19.
Example 3:
Solve each of the following linear equations.
(a) x+8=16
(b) x-4=-9
(c) -7x=14

Solution:
(d) x+8=16
x+8-8=16-8
x=8
(b) x-4=-9
x-4+4=-9+4
x=-5
(c) -7x=14

x=-2
Solution:
(d)

x=-10
 B. Additive and multiplicative inverses
 The additive inverse is the number with the opposite sign. When a
number is added to its additive inverse, we will get 0.
4 is the additive inverse of -4, because (-4)+4=0
-9 is the additive inverse of 9, because 9+(-9)=0
Example 1:
Find the additive inverse of
(a) 78 (b) -100
Solution:
(b) -78, because -78+78=0,
(c) 100, because 100+(-100)=0
 The multiplicative inverse of a number is its reciprocal. The product of a
number and its multiplicative inverse is 1.
For example, is the multiplicative inverse of 8, because .
is the multiplicative inverse of , because .
Example 2:
Find the multiplicative inverse of
(a) -211 (b)
Solution:
(b) , because
(c) , because .
 C. Solving equations in the form and

To solve equations in the form and , firstly isolate the term with the
unknown by placing that term on one side of the equation using additive
inverse and multiplicative inverse when needed.
Remember, whatever we do to one side of the equation, we must do the
same to the other side.
Example 1
Solve:
(a) x+3=11 (c) 5n=-40
(b) y-7=12 (d)
Solution:
(a) x+3=11
x+3-3=11-3  to isolate x, subtract 3 from both sides.
x=8
(b) y-7=12
y-7+7=12+7  to isolate y, add 7 to both sides.
y=19
(c) 5n=-40
 to isolate n, divide both side with 5.
n=-8
(d)
 to isolate k, multiply both sides with 4.
k=12
 D. Solving equations in the form
Example 1
Solve each of the following equations.
(a) 4x+9=37

Solution:
(b) 4x+9=37
4x+9-9=37-9  to isolate 4x, subtract 9 from both sides.
4x=28
 to isolate x, divide both sides with 4.
x=7
Solution:
(b)
 to isolate , add 3 to both sides.

 to isolate x, multiply both sides with .

x=21
 E. Solving linear equations in one variable
Example 1
Solve the equation 5(x+2)=3x-6
Solution:
5(x+2)=3x-6
5x+10=3x-6
5x-3x=-6-10
2x=-16
x=
x=-8
Example 2
Solve each of the following equations.
(a) y+11=-15 (b)
Solution:
(b) y+11=-15
y=-15-11
y=-26
(b)
m+7=5(m-5)
m+7=5m-25
m-5m=-25-7
-4m=-32

m=8
 F. Solving problems involving linear equations in one
variable
To solve problems involving linear equations in one variable, follow the
steps below:
 Identify the variable in the problem. Use a letter to represent the
variable.
 Form a linear equation using the information given in the problem.
 Solve the equation to find the value of the variable.
Example 1:
The length of a rectangular field is 40m longer than its width. Given than the
perimeter of the field is 400m, find the length and the width of the field.
Solution:
Let the width of the field be x m. Then, length of the field=(x+40)m
Perimeter =x+x+(x+40)+(x+40)
4x+80=400
4x=400-80 width=80m
4x=320 length=80+40=120m
x=
x=80m
Example 2:
Marks 2 4 6 8

Number of 10 9 21
participants

The table given shows the marks obtained by a group of participants in a

Mathematics quiz. The participants who score more than 4 marks will be
given a prize. Given that the number of participants who received a prize is
twice the number of participants who did not receive a prize from the
organizer. Find the value of m.
 Marks 2 4 6 8
Solution:

Number of 10 9 21
participants

Number of participant who received a prize =9+21=30

Number of participants who did not receive the prize = m+10
Given that the number of participants who received a prize is twice the number of
participants who did not receive a prize.
Thus, 30=2(m+10)
2(m+10)=30
2m+20=30
2m=30-20
2m=10
m=  m=5