Name ________________________________________ Date __________________ Class__________________

LESSON Challenge
2-4 Finding a Formula to Solve Linear Equations
A linear equation in one variable can take on many different appearances.
Each of the equations below is an equation in one variable.
2x − 5 = 12 2(x + 1) = 5 3x − 4 = −2x + 1
Although these equations look different, you can transform each of them
into the standard form for a linear equation in one variable.

In Exercises 1−4, each equation has the form ax + b = 0. Solve

each equation.
1. 3x + 7 = 0 _________________ 2. −2x − 8 = 0 _________________

2
3. x − 5 = 0 _________________ 4. −4.1x − 8.2 = 0 _________________
3
You can always transform a given linear equation in one variable into the
form ax + b = 0.

In Exercises 5−8, write each equation in the form ax + b = 0. Do not

solve the resulting equation.
5. 3(x + 5) = x + 21 6. −2(−4 − 6x) = −10 + 3x

_________________________________________ ________________________________________
7. −7(−3 − x) = −2(3 − x) 8. 8 − 2(x − 5) = x − 3

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9. a. Solve ax + b = 0 for x. ______________________________________________________________

b. Explain how to write your answer to part a as a formula that you can use to solve a
linear equation in x. ________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Solve the specified equation by using your formula from Exercise 9.

10. Exercise 5 ___________________________ 11. Exercise 6 _____________________________

12. Exercise 7 ___________________________ 13. Exercise 8 _____________________________

14. a. Let ax + b = 0, where a = 0 and b = 0. How many

solutions does the equation have? _____________________________

b. Let ax + b = 0, where a = 0 and b ≠ 0. How many

solutions does the equation have? _____________________________

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2-32 Holt McDougal Algebra 1