Equations

An equation is a statement that shows two quantities or

expressions are equal. An equation may be true only for
some values of the variable/s. Therefore, the value of the
variable that makes a statement true is called solution or
root of the equation. By collecting all possible solutions to
an equation, the solution set to the equation is obtained.
 Linear Equations in One Variable
Linear equations in one variable maybe written in the form where a, b,
and c are real numbers, and should not be equal to 0. It is an equation
of the first degree in its variable x. To solve an equation means to
determine its solution set. In order to do this, substitution of values is
done and the equality axioms of real numbers are used.
 Linear Equations in One Variable
Reflexive: For any real number a, a = a.
Symmetric: If a = b, then b = a.
Transitive: If a = b, and b = c, then a = c.
Addition Property of Equality (APE):
If a, b, c are real numbers and a = b, then a + c = b + c.
Multiplication Property of Equality (MPE):
If a, b, c are real numbers and a = b, then ac = bc.
- Group all terms with variables on the one side of the
equation and the constants in the other side of the equation.
The APE can be used in grouping similar terms.

- Simplify both terms of the equation by performing the

operations present.

- If the numerical coefficient of x is any number other than

1, divide both sides by its coefficient.
3 x +5=2 x − 4 2 x − 4=4 x −5
3 x +(− 2 x )+5=− 4 2 x+(− 4 x )− 4=− 5

3 x + ( −2 x )=− 4 +(−5) 2 x+ ( − 4 x )=−5 +( 4)

x=− 9 −2 x=− 1
1
−2 x −1 x=
= 2
−2 − 2
Joseph does not know the number of books that Maria has in her shelf but he
knows it is three more than twice as many as what Joy has. Can Joseph
determine the number of books of Maria, if she said, the total number of
books that Maria and Joy combined is 15?

Let x be the number of books Joy has

2x + 3 is the number of books Maria has
15 is the total of their books
x+ ( 2 x +3 )=15 x=4
x+2 x +3=15 Let x be the number of books Joy has
2x + 3 is the number of books Maria has
x+2 x +3=15
x=4
x+ 2 x =15+(− 3) 2 x+3
3 x=12 2( 4)+3
3 x 12 8+3=11 Joy has 4 books while
= Maria has 11 books.
3 3
 Inequalities in One Variable
In some instances, the comparison of unknown quantities is in form of
one being smaller in value than the other. Thus, inequality exists. An
inequality is a statement that one quantity or expression is greater than
or less than another quantity or expression. Similarly, the set of values
that makes an inequality true is called a solution set.
 INTERVAL INTERVAL
INEQUALITY INEQUALITY
NOTATION NOTATION

Note that the symbol ∞ means infinity and that we use parenthesis when the
inequality is strict, one which uses > or < and a square bracket is used is the
inequality is either ≥ or ≤.
- Group all terms with variables on the one side of the
equation and the constants in the other side of the inequality.
The APE can be used in grouping similar terms.

- Simplify both terms of the inequality by performing the

operations present.

- If the numerical coefficient of x is any number other than

1, divide both sides by its coefficient.
( −3 x +5 ) +2 ≥ 4 x 5 x − 4 ≤ 3(x − 4 )
−3 x +5+2 ≥ 4 x 5 x − 4 ≤ 3 x −12

5+2 ≥ 4 x+(3 x) 5 x+(−3 x )− 4 ≤− 12

7≥7 x 5 x+ (− 3 x ) ≤− 12+( 4)
7 7x
≥
2 x≤−8
7 7 2 x −8
≤
1≥x 2 2
x≤1 x≤−4
 Graphing Equations and Inequalities in One
Variable
Graphing equations and inequalities in one variable is made by plotting
the solutions set of these algebraic expressions on a number line.
However, there will be differences in dealing with each of them. Linear
equations are graphed by plotting the solution set of the given equation
in a number line. A solid dot is placed on the division line that
corresponds to its given solution.
2 x+1=2+ x
2 x+(− x )+1=2
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
2 x+ ( − x )=2+(−1)
x=1 x =1
x >4

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Interval form:
The open dot symbol on 4 tells us that it is
not part of the solution set. The arrow
pointing to the right indicates that all the
values greater than 4 are elements of the
solution set.
x <4

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Interval form:
The open dot symbol on 4 tells us that it is
not part of the solution set. The arrow
pointing to the left indicates that all the
values lesser than 4 are elements of the
solution set.
x≥ 4

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Interval form: The closed dot symbol indicates that 4 is an

element of the solution set. The arrow drawn
from 4 to the right means that the solution
set for x ≥ 4 is the set of all numbers greater
than or equal to 4.
x≤ 4

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Interval form: The closed dot symbol indicates that 4 is a

part of the solution set. The arrow drawn
from 4 to the left means that the solution set
for the expression is the set of all numbers
less than or equal to 4
− 4< x< 4

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Interval form:
The endpoints of the segment in the graph
are not parts of the solution set of the linear
inequality.
−4≤ x ≤4

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Interval form:
The endpoints of the segment in the graph
are parts of the solution set of the linear
inequality.
− 4< x ≤ 4

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Interval form:
The first endpoint of the segment in the
graph is not a part of the solution set while
the second end point is a part of the solution
set of the linear inequality.
− 4≤ x<4

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Interval form:
The first endpoint of the segment in the
graph is a part of the solution set while the
second end point is not a part of the solution
set of the linear inequality.