MATH 221- LINEAR ALGEBRA

Handout No. 1

LINEAR EQUATION

-an equation of the form

𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 = 0
where a and b are real numbers and 𝑎 ≠ 0, or any equation equivalent to an equation of this form.

Equality are relations between two quantities. To solve an equation means to find its solution set.

Finding Solution of a Linear Equation

Solving an equation means finding all solutions to the equation. A solution of an equation is a number that makes
the equation a true statement. If the same number is added to the left and right members of an equation, the
resulting sums are equal.

Let us illustrate how this property is applied in solving linear equations in one variable.

To solve linear equation 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 = 0 for x, we subtract b from both sides and then divide both sides by a, which we
can do because 𝑎 ≠ 0. We then have the following equivalent equations:

𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 = 0

𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 − 𝑏 = 0 − 𝑏
𝑎𝑥 = −𝑏
𝑎𝑥 −𝑏
=
𝑎 𝑎
−𝑏
𝑥=
𝑎
Example 1. 𝑥– 7 = 5

𝑥 – 7 + 7 = 5 + 7 Add 7 to both sides of an equation

𝑥 + 0 = 12
𝑥 = 12

Check by substituting the value x in the equation.

Checking: 𝑥– 7 = 5

12 − 7 = 5
5=5
Example 2: 5𝑥 + 7 = 12

5𝑥 + 7 – 7 = 12 – 7

5𝑥 = 5
5 5
𝑥 =
5 5
𝑥=1

Check by substituting the value x in the equation.

Checking: 5𝑥 + 7 = 12

5(1) + 7 = 12

5 + 7 = 12

12 = 12

Find the solution of the given equations below and check.

1) 7𝑥 + 4 = 25
2) 4𝑤 − 3 = 11 − 3𝑤
3) −2[𝑠 − (5 − 4𝑠)] + 4 = −3𝑠
5 1 3
4) − =
2𝑦 𝑦 4
3 2
5) =
𝑥+4 3𝑥−2