Section 1.

2 - Linear Equations and Rational Equations

Definition of a Linear Equation

A linear equation in one variable x is an equation that can be written in the form
ax + b = 0
where a and b are real number, and a ≠ 0

Addition and Multiplication Properties of Equalities

If a  b, then a  c  b  c
If a  b, then ac  bc

Example
Solve: 3(2x - 4) = 7 - (x + 5)
6 x 12  7  x  5
6 x 12  x  2  x  x
7 x  12  2
7 x 12  12  2  12
7 x  14
7 x  14
7 7
x2

Example

Solve: 2 x  4  1 x  1 x  7
3 2 4 3
(12) 2 x  4  (12) 1 x  (12) 1 x  (12) 7
3 2 4 3
4(2 x  4)  6 x  3x  28
8x  16  6 x  3x  28
14 x  16  3x  28
14 x  3x  28 16
11x  44
x  4

5
Example

Solve: 5  17  1 Restriction: x ≠ 0
2 x 18 3x

Solution

(18 x) 5  (18 x) 17  (18x) 1

2x 18 3x
45 = 17x – 6
45 + 6 = 17x
17x = 51
x=3

Example

Solve: x  2 2 Restriction: x ≠ 2
x2 x2 3
Solution

3( x  2) x  3( x  2) 2  3( x  2) 2
x2 x2 3
3x = 6 – 2(x – 2)
3x = 6 – 2x + 4
3x + 2x = 10
 5x = 10
x=2 No Solution or {}

6
Identities, Conditional Equations, and Contradictions
Example
Solve: 2( x  4)  3x  x  8
Solution
2( x  4)  3x  x  8
2 x  8  3x  x  8
x 8  x 8
0  0 True statement
Solution: All real numbers

Example
Solve: 5x  4  11
Solution
5x  4  11
5x  15
x3
This is a conditional equation, and its solution set is {3}

Example
Solve: 3(3x  1)  9 x  7
Solution
3(3x  1)  9 x  7
9x  3  9x  7
3  7 False statement
This is a contradiction equation, and its solution set is empty set {} or null

7
Solving for a Specified Variable
Example
Solve
a) I  Pr t for t
I  Pr t
Pr Pr
I t
Pr

b) A- P = Prt for P
A= Prt + P
A= P  rt +1
A =P or P  A
rt +1 rt +1

c) 3(2 x  5a)  4b  4 x  2 for x

6 x 15a  4b  4 x  2
6 x  4 x  15a  4b  2
2 x  15a  4b  2
x  15a  4b  2
2

Example
Solve the formula 2l + 2w = P for w
Solution
2w = P – 2l

w  P  2l
2

Example
Solve the formula P  C  MC for C
Solution
P  C (1  M )

P  C (1 M )
1 M 1 M
P C
1 M

C P
1 M

8
Exercises Section 1.2 - Linear Equations and Rational Equations

1. Solve: 1 (3x  2)  x  10
14 10

2. Solve: 4( x  7)  2( x  12)  2( x  1)

3. Solve:  
2 x  x  3x  8x  6   2 x  2

4. Solve: 45   4  2 y  4( y  7)  4(1  3 y)   4  3( y  2)  2(2 y  5)

5. Solve: x 3  5  x 5
4 14 7

6. Solve: x 1  1  2  x
4 6 3

7. Solve x 8  x 3  0
3 2

8. Solve: 5 8 1  1
2 x 9 18 3x

9. Solve: 1  1  22
x  4 x  4 x2 16

10. Solve: 3x  1  2 x  x
3 x 1

11. Solve: x  2 2
x2 x2

12. Solve the equation x  7 8

x7 x7

13. Solve: 3x  2  1  2
x  2 x x2  2 x

14. Solve: 4 x  4  8
x  1 x  1 x2  1

15. Solve: 4x  3  2  1
x  1 x x2  x

16. Solve: 6  5  20

x  3 x  2 x2  x  6

9
17. Solve: A  1 h  B  b for B
2

18. Solve: A  1 h( a  b ) for a

2

19.
2 1
Solve: A  1 h b  b
2 , for h

20.
2 1
Solve: A  1 h b  b
2 , for b
2

21. Solve: S  P  Pr t for t.

22. Solve: 1 1  1 for R

R R1 R 1
2
23. Solve the formula for the indicated variable S  3 rk  3 r 2 for k

24. A sewage treatment plant has two inlet pipes to its settling pond. One can fill the pond in 10 hrs. the
other in 12 hr. If the first pipe is open for 5 hrs. and then the second pipe us opened, how long will it
take to fill the pond?

10
Solution Section 1.2 - Linear Equations and Rational Equations

Exercise
Solve: 1 (3x  2)  x  10
14 10
Solution
1 (3x  2)  x  10
14 10
(70) 1 (3x  2)  (70) x  10
14 10
5(3x  2)  7( x  10)
15x 10  7 x  70
15x  7 x  10  70
8x  80
x  10

Exercise
Solve: 4( x  7)  2( x  12)  2( x  1)
Solution
4x  28  2 x  24  2 x  2
4 x  28  4 x  26
4 x  4 x  26  28
0  2 (False)

Solution: {}

Exercise
 
Solve: 2 x  x  3x  8 x  6   2 x  2

Solution
2 x  x  3x  8x  6   2 x  2 Distribute the minus

2 x  x  3x   8 x  6   2 x  2 Distribute the plus

2x  x  3x  8x  6  2 x  2 Distribute the minus
4 x  6  2 x  2
4x  2x  6  6  2x  2x  2  6
6 x  4 Divide by 6
x 4 2
6 3

5
Exercise
Solve: 45   4  2 y  4( y  7)  4(1  3 y)   4  3( y  2)  2(2 y  5)

Solution
45   4  2 y  4 y  28  4  12 y  4  3 y  6  4 y  10
45  4  2 y  4 y  28  4  12 y  4  3 y  6  4 y  10
69  6 y  12  5 y
6 y  5 y  12  69
11y  81
y   81
11

Exercise
Solve: x 3  5  x 5
4 14 7
Solution

(28) x  3  (28) 5  (28) x  5 LCD : 4 14 7  28

4 14 7
7(x – 3) = 2(5) – 4(x + 5)
7x – 21 = 10 – 4x – 20
7x + 4x = 21 – 10
11x = 11
x=1

Exercise
Solve: x 1  1  2  x
4 6 3
Solution
4 6 3  12 (common
12 x 1  12 1  12 2 x
4 6 3
3( x  1)  2  4(2  x)
3x  3  2  8  4 x
3x  4 x  2  8  3
7x  7
x 1

6
Exercise
Solve x  8  x  3  0
3 2
Solution

 6 x 3 8   6 x 2 3  0  6 LCD: 2, 3: 6

2  x  8   3  x  3  0
2 x  16  3x  9  0
5x  25  0
5x  25
x  25  5
5

Exercise
Solve: 5 8 1  1
2 x 9 18 3x
Solution
Restriction: x ≠ 0
18 x 5  18 x 8  18 x 1  18 x 1 2 x 9 18 3x  18 x
2x 9 18 3x
9(5)  2 x(8)  x  6
45  16 x  x  6
45  6  x  16 x
51  17x
x  51  3
17

Exercise
Solve: 1  1  22
x  4 x  4 x 2 16
Solution
Restrictions: x ≠  4

( x  4)( x  4) 1  ( x  4)( x  4) 1  ( x  4)( x  4) 22

x4 x4 x2 16
x – 4 + x + 4 = 22
2x = 22
 x = 11

7
Exercise
Solve: 3x  1  2 x  x
3 x 1
Solution
Condition (Restriction): x 1  0  x  1

3( x  1) 3x  1  3( x  1) 2 x  3( x  1) x
3 x 1

3x 2  x  3x  1  6 x  3x 2  3x
3x 2  x  3x  1  6 x  3x 2  3x  0
7 x  1  0
7 x  1

x1
7

Exercise
Solve: x  2 2
x2 x2
Solution
Restriction: x  2  0  x  2

( x  2) x  ( x  2) 2  2( x  2)
x2 x2
x  2  2x  4
 x  2
x  2  No Solution or {} because of the restriction.

Exercise

Solve the equation x  7 8

x7 x7
Solution
Restriction: x  7  0  x  7

 x  7  x x 7   x  7  x 7 7  8  x  7 
x  7  8x  56
x  8x  49
7 x  49
x  49  7
7
But x  7 (restriction), therefore there is no solution

8
Exercise
Solve: 3x  2  1  2
x  2 x x2  2 x

Solution
x  2  0  x  2
Restriction: 
 x0

x( x  2) 3x  2  x( x  2) 1  x( x  2) 2
x2 x x2  2 x

3x2  2 x  x  2  2

3x 2  3x  0
3x( x  1)  0

3x  0 x 1  0
x0 x  1
x  1 is the only solution

Exercise
Solve: 4 x  4  8
x  1 x  1 x2  1

Solution
Restriction: x  1

( x  1)( x  1) 4 x  ( x  1)( x  1) 4  ( x  1)( x  1) 8

x 1 x 1 x2  1
4 x( x  1)  4( x  1)  8

4 x2  4 x  4 x  4  8

4 x2  4
4 x 2  4
4 4

x2  1
x  1 The solution is {}

9
Exercise
Solve: 4 x  3  2  1
x  1 x x2  x
Solution
Restriction: x  1  0  x  1 x0

x( x  1) 4 x  3  x( x  1) 2  x( x  1) 1
x 1 x x2  x
x(4 x  3)  2( x  1)  1
4 x 2  3x  2 x  2  1
4 x2  5x  2  1  1  1
4 x2  5x  1  0
(4 x  1)( x  1)  0
4x 1  0 x 1  0
x1 x  1
4

Exercise
Solve: 6  5  20
x  3 x  2 x2  x  6
Solution
6  5   20 Restriction: x ≠3, 2
x  3 x  2 x 2  x 6

( x  3)( x  2) 6  ( x  3)( x  2) 5  ( x  3)( x  2) 20

x 3 x 2 x 2  x 6
6( x  2)  5( x  3)  20
6 x  12  5x  15  20
x  20  12  15
x7

Exercise
Solve: A  1 h  B  b  for B
2
Solution
2A  h  B  b  Multiply both sides by 2
2A  B  b Divide both sides by h
h
2A  b  B
h
10
Exercise
Solve: A  1 h( a  b ) for a
2
Solution
2 A  2 1 h( a  b )
2
2 A  h(a  b)
2 A  h ( a  b)
h h
2A  a  b
h
2A  b  a
h
a  2A  b or a  2 Abh
h h

Exercise

2 1
Solve: A  1 h b  b
2 , for h

Solution

2A  h b  b1 2 
2A h
b b
1 2

Exercise

Solve: A  1 h b1  b2 , for b2
2 
Solution
2 A  h(b1  b2 )
2A  b  b
h 1 2

2A  b  b
h 1 2

11
Exercise
Solve: S  P  Pr t for t.
Solution
S  P  Pr t
S  P  Pr t
Pr Pr
SP t
Pr

Exercise
Solve: 1  1  1 for R
R R1 R 1
2
Solution
1st Method Multiply by the common denominator RR1R2
RR1R2 1  RR1R2 1  RR1R2 1 Simplify
R R1 R2
R1R2  RR2  RR1 Move R1 to one side
R1R2  RR1  RR2 Factor R1
R1  R2  R   RR2 Divide by R2 - R
RR2
R1 
R2  R

2nd Method
1 1  1 Common denominator on one side of the equality
R R2 R1
R2  R
 1 Cross multiplication
RR2 R1
R1R2  RR1  RR2 Factor R1
R1  R2  R   RR2 Divide by R2 - R
RR2
R1 
R2  R

3rd Method
1 1  1
R R2 R1
R2  R
 1 Cross multiplication
RR2 R1
RR2
 R1 Flip
R2  R

12
Exercise
Solve the formula for the indicated variable S  3 rk  3 r 2 for k
Solution

S  3 rk  3 r 2
S  3 r 2  3 rk  3 r 2  3 r 2
S  3 r 2  3 rk
S  3 r 2  3 r k
3 r 3 r
S  3 r 2  k
3 r

Exercise
A sewage treatment plant has two inlet pipes to its settling pond. One can fill the pond in 10 hr, the other
in 12 hr. If the first pipe is open for 5 hr and then the second pipe us opened, how long will it take to fill
the pond?
Solution
Rate Time Job: A = rt
1 x
One x
10 10
1 x5
Other x-5
12 12
x  x 5 1
10 12

(60) x  (60) x  5  1(60)

10 12
6 x  5( x  5)  60
6 x  5x  25  60
11x  85

x  85  7.3
11
The other  7.3  5  2.3

13