1.

3 Solving Linear Equations

p. 19
What is an equation?
A statement in which 2 expressions are =

Ex: Which of the following are equations?
a. 3x-7=12 b. 24x+5

c. 2x-7x
2
+4x
3
d. 12x+3= -4x-8


Properties of Equality
Addition prop of = - can add the same term
to both sides of an equation.
Subtraction prop of = - can subtract the
same term from both sides of an equation.
Multiplication prop of = - can multiply both
sides of an equation by the same term.
Division prop of = - can divide both sides
of an equation by the same term.
** So basically, whatever you do to one side
of an equation, you MUST do to the other!
To solve an equation for a variable:
Do order of operations backwards (undo
+/- first, then mult/div.)
Keep going until the variable is by itself on
one side of the equation
You may have to simplify each side first.
Example: Solve for the variable.
16 8
9
2
= + x
8
9
2
= x
|
.
|

\
|
=
2
9
8 x
36 = x
( ) ( ) x x x + + = 7 2 4 2 5
x x x + = 28 8 10 5
28 7 10 5 = x x
28 10 12 = x
18 12 = x
12
18
= x
2
3
= x
Ex: Solve for x.
10
3
2
5
1
3
2
= + x x
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
.
|

\
|
+
10
3
2 30
5
1
3
2
30 x x
9 60 6 20 = + x x
9 6 40 = + x
15 40 = x
40
15

= x
8
3
= x
Ex: Solve the equations.
5(x-4)=5x+12
5x-20=5x+12
-20=12


Doesnt make sense!
Answer: No solution
7x+14 -3x=4x+14
4x+14=4x+14
0=0


This one makes sense,
but theres no variable
left!

Answer: All real numbers
Dry ice is solid CO
2
. It does not melt, but
changes into a gas at -109.3
o
F. What is
this temperature in
o
C?

32
5
9
F + = C Use
32
5
9
3 . 109 + = C
C
5
9
3 . 141 =
C = ) 3 . 141 (
9
5
C
o
= 5 . 78
1.4 Rewriting Equations &
Formulas
p. 26
Examples
Solve 11x-9y= -4 for y.
-11x -11x
-9y=-11x-4
-9 -9 -9
Solve 7x-3y=8 for x.
+3y +3y
7x=3y+8
7 7 7
9
4
9
11
+ = x y
7
8
7
3
+ = y x
Turn to page 28 in your
book.
Know the Common
Formulas Chart on this
page!
Ex: Solve the area of a trapezoid
formula for b
1
.
A = (b
1
+b
2
) h
2A = (b
1
+b
2
) h

2 1
2
b b
h
A
+ =
1 2
2
b b
h
A
=
Last Example:
You are selling 2 types of hats: baseball hats &
visors. Write an equation that represents total
revenue.
Total
Revenue
Price of
baseball
cap
# of
caps
sold
Price of
visor
# of
visors
sold
R = p
1
B + p
2
V
Assignment