COLEGIO DE MUNTINLUPA

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

LESSON 08:
LINEAR EQUATIONS IN ONE VARIABLE

Engr. Onofre E. Algara, Jr.

BS Electrical Engineering (DLSU-D)
MS Electrical Engineering (Mapua University)
PhD EnM ongoing, (NEUST)
Course Instructor
Objectives
1. Decide whether a number is a solution of a linear equation.
2. Solve linear equations using the addition and multiplication properties of equality.
3. Solve linear equations using the distributive property.
4. Solve linear equations with fractions or decimals.
5. Identify conditional equations, contradictions, and identities.
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Algebraic Expressions vs. Equations
In the previous chapter, we looked at algebraic expressions:
a
– 9y + 5, 10k, and 2 5
- 7b c
Equations are statements that two algebraic expressions are equal:
3x – 13 = 29, 2 + y = – 11, and 3m = 4m – 2

An equation always contains an equals sign, but an

expression does not.
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Linear Equations in One Variable
A linear equation in one variable can be written in
the form Ax + B = C
where A, B, and C are real numbers, with A = 0.
/
A linear equation is also called a first-degree equation since the greatest
power on the variable is one.
5x + 10 = 13
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Linear Equations in One Variable
Determine whether the following equations are linear or nonlinear.

8x + 3 = –9 Yes, x is raised to the first power.

3
9x – 8 = 15 No, x is not raised to the first power.

7 = –12 No, x is not raised to the first power.

x

x − 4 = 16 No, x is not raised to the first power.

Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Deciding Whether a Number is a Solution
If a variable can be replaced by a real number that makes the
equation a true statement, then that number is a solution of the
equation, x – 10 = 3.

13 is a solution 8 is not a solution

13 8

x – 10 = 3 x – 10 = 3

13 – 10 = 3 (true) 8 – 10 = 3 (false)
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Finding the Solution Set of an Equation

An equation is solved by finding its solution set – the set of all solutions.

The solution set of x – 10 = 3 is {13}.

Equivalent equations are equations that have the same solution set.
These are equivalent equations since they all have solution set {–3}.

3x + 5 = –4 3x = –9 x = –3
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Solving Linear Equations
An equation is like a balance scale, comparing the weights of two quantities.

Expression-1 = Expression-2

We apply properties to produce a series of simpler

equivalent equations to determine the solution set.

Variable = Solution
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Addition Property of Equality

The same number may be added to both sides of an equation without

changing the solution set.

A=B

A = B

A + C = B + C
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Multiplication Property of Equality

Each side of an equation may be multiplied by the same nonzero

number without changing the solution set.

A=B

A = B

AC = BC
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Addition and Multiplication Properties of Equality
Addition Property of Equality

For all real numbers A, B, and C, the equation

A = B and A + C = B + C
are equivalent.

Multiplication Property of Equality

/
For all real numbers A, B, and for C = 0, the equation
A = B and A C = B C
are equivalent.
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Addition and Multiplication Properties of Equality

Because subtraction and division are defined in terms of addition and

multiplication,

we can extend the addition and multiplication properties of equality as

follows:

The same number may be subtracted from each side

of an equation, and each side of an equation may be
divided by the same nonzero number, without
changing the solution set.
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Solving Linear Equations in One Variable

Step 1 Clear fractions. Eliminate any fractions by multiplying each side by the least
common denominator.
Step 2 Simplify each side separately. Use the distributive property to clear
parentheses and combine like terms as needed.
Step 3 Isolate the variable terms on one side. Use the addition property to get all
terms with variables on one side of the equation and all numbers on the other.
Step 4 Isolate the variable. Use the multiplication property to get an equation with just
the variable (with coefficient of 1) on one side.
Step 5 Check. Substitute the proposed solution into the original equation.
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Solving Linear Equations

Solve 3x + 2 = 10.

3x + 2 = 10
3x + 2 – 2 = 10 – 2 Subtract 2.
3x = 8
Combine like terms.
3x 8
=
3 3 Divide by 3.
8
x= Proposed solution.
3
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Solving Linear Equations

3x + 2 = 10
8 Check by substituting the proposed
3• + 2 = 10 solution back into the original equation.
3
Since the value of each side is 10, the
8 + 2 = 10 proposed solution is correct.

8 
The solution set is   .
3
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Solving Linear Equations

Solve 2x – 5 = 5x – 2.
2x – 5 = 5x – 2
2x – 5 – 5x = 5x – 2 – 5x
Subtract 5x.
–3x – 5 = –2
Combine like terms.
–3x – 5 + 5= –2 + 5
Add 5.
–3x = 3
Combine like terms.
−3x 3
= Divide by –3.
3 −3
x = –1 Proposed solution.
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Solving Linear Equations

Check by substituting the

proposed solution back into
2x – 5 = 5x – 2 the original equation.

2(–1) – 5 = 5(–1) – 2
Since the value of each
–2 – 5 = –5 – 2 side is –7 , the proposed
solution is correct.
–7 = –7
The solution set is {–1}.
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 2.1 - 17
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Solving Linear Equations

Solve 5(2x + 3) = 3 – 2(3x – 5).

5(2x + 3) = 3 – 2(3x – 5)
10x + 15 = 3 – 6x + 10
10x + 15 – 15 = 3 – 6x + 10 – 15
10x = – 6x – 2
10x + 6x = –6x – 2 + 6x
16x = –2
Distributive Prop.
Add –15.
Collect like terms.
Add 6x.
Collect like terms.
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Solving Linear Equations

16x = –2

16 x −2 Divide by 16.
=
16 16
1
x=− Proposed solution.
8
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Solving Linear Equations

Check proposed solution:

5 ( 2 x + 3) = 3 − 2 ( 3 x − 5 )  22   43 
5  = 3 − 2 − 
 8   8 
  1    1  110 86
5  2  −  + 3 = 3 − 2 3  −  − 5  = 3+
  8    8  8 8
 2   3  110 24 86
5  − + 3 = 3 − 2  − − 5  = +
 8   8  8 8 8
 2 24   3 40  110 110
5 − +  = 3 − 2 − −  = Checks
 8 8  8 8 8 8
 1
The solution set set is −  .
 8
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Solving Linear Equations with Fractions

2x +1 1 x − 3
Solve = + .
2 3 4

 2x +1  1 x −3
12   = 12  +  Clear fractions.
 2  3 4 
6 ( 2 x + 1) = 4 + 3 ( x − 3) Distributive property.
12 x + 6 = 4 + 3x − 9 Distributive property.
12 x + 6 − 3x = 4 + 3x − 9 − 3x Add − 3x.
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Solving Linear Equations with Fractions

continued
12 x + 6 − x = 4 + 3x − 9 − 3x
9 x + 6 = −5 Collect like terms.
9 x + 6 − 6 = −5 − 6 Add − 6.
9 x = −11 Collect like terms
9 x −11
= Divide by 9.
9 9
11
x=− Proposed solution.
9
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Solving Linear Equations with Decimals

Solve 1.5 ( x + 2) = 2.8 + x .

1.5 ( x + 2 ) = 2.8 + x
15 ( x + 2 ) = 28 + 10 x Multiply by 10.
15 x + 30 = 28 + 10 x Distributive property.
15 x + 30 − 10 x = 28 + 10 x − 10 x Add − 10 x.
5 x + 30 = 28 Collect like terms.
5 x + 30 − 30 = 28 − 30 Add − 30.
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Solving Linear Equations with Decimals

continued

5 x + 30 − 30 = 28 − 30
5 x = −2 Collect like terms.
5 x −2
= Divide by 5.
5 5
2
x=− Proposed solution.
5
 2
The solution set is −  .
 5
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Conditional, Contradiction, and Identity Equations
Linear equations can have exactly one solution, no solution, or an infinite
number of solutions.

Type of Linear Indication When

Number of Solutions
Equation Solving

Final results is
Conditional One
x = a number.

Infinite; solution set Final line is true,

Identity
{all real numbers} such as 5 = 5.

Final line is
Contradiction None; solution set is false, such as –3
. = 11.
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Conditional, Contradiction, and Identity Equations

A contradiction has no solutions.

Solve x + 7 = x + 2.
x+7 = x+2
x+7−7 = x+2−7 Adding − 7.
x = x −5 Collecting like terms.
x − x = x −5− x Add − x.
0 = −5 Collecting like terms.

Since 0 = –5 is never true, and this equation is

equivalent to x + 7 = x + 2, the solution set is empty.
Using Linear Equations of One Variable
Conditional, Contradiction, and Identity Equations
An identity has an infinite number of solutions.
Solve 2x + 2 = 2 ( x + 1) .
2 x + 2 = 2 ( x + 1)
2x + 2 = 2x + 2 Distributive property.
2x + 2 − 2 = 2x + 2 − 2 Adding − 2.
2x = 2x Collecting like terms.
2x − 2x = 2x − 2x Adding − 2 x.
0=0 Collecting like terms.

Since 0 = 0 is always true, and this equation is equivalent

to 2x + 2 = 2(x + 1), the solution set is all real numbers.
END OF PRESENTATION