Linear Equations

Relevant Syllabus Dot Points

Year 10 + 10A Mathematics
• Solve problems involving linear equations, including those derived from formulas (ACMNA235)
• Solve linear equations involving simple algebraic fractions (ACMNA240)

Year 11 Mathematics Methods (UNIT 1)

Linear Equations
1.1.6 Solve linear equations, including those with algebraic fractions and variables on both sides
A Review of Solving Linear Equations
A linear equation is one of the basic types of equations representing a polynomial in which
the variable is to the first power (i.e. the highest ordered term or powered term is to the
power of 1).

When solving for a linear equation such as the one below:

if you are showing step-by-step working, make sure to lay out your working vertically (one
step after the other going down the page).

Avoid doing things like this, which give statements that don’t make sense mathematically:
EXAMPLE 1 – Solving Linear Equations
Solve for the following equations WITHOUT THE USE OF A CALCULATOR:

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)
EXAMPLE 1 – Solving Linear Equations
Solve for the following equations:

EXPAND BRACKETS

MINUS 4x

MINUS 6

DIVIDE BY -2

The answer is x = -11

EXAMPLE 1 – Solving Linear Equations
Solve for the following equation:

CROSS MULTIPLY
EXPAND BRACKETS

MINUS 2d
MINUS 4
DIVIDE BY 10
The answer is d = -1
EXAMPLE 1 – Solving Linear Equations
Solve for the following equation:

CROSS MULTIPLY
EXPAND BRACKETS

MINUS 3a
MINUS 35

The answer is a = -22 DIVIDE BY 2

EXAMPLE 1 – Solving Linear Equations
Solve for the following equation:

MULTIPLY BOTH SIDES BY THE LCD

DIVIDE LCD BY
THE DENOMINATORS

EXPAND BRACKETS
SIMPLIFY
MINUS 29
The answer is m =
DIVIDE BY 22
EXAMPLE 1 – Solving Linear Equations
Solve for the following equation:

MULTIPLY BOTH SIDES BY THE LCD

DIVIDE LCD BY
THE DENOMINATORS

EXPAND BRACKETS
SIMPLIFY
MINUS 5

The answer is p = 5 DIVIDE BY 11

Using Formulae
Formulas/formulae are algebraic expressions equations that we can apply to practical
situations.

EXAMPLES:
The formulae for the area of a rectangle is A = lw
where A = area, l = length and w = width

The formulae for simple interest is I = PRT

where I = interest, P = principal, R = interest rate and T = time

The formulae for calculating the percentage of a given value is

where x = percentage and y = given value
Rearranging Formulae
In the equation
• is the subject of the equation
• in other words, is by itself

In the equation m
• m is the subject of the equation
• in other words, m is by itself

In the equation A =
• A is the subject of the equation
• in other words, A is by itself
To isolate a variable (put a variable by itself),
we must use inverse operations to undo an
equation.

Use reverse BIMDAS!

EXAMPLE 2 – Rearranging Formulae
1) For the equation make the subject.

2) For the equation make the subject.

3) For the equation make the subject.

4) For the equation make the subject.

5) For the equation make the subject.

EXAMPLE 2 – Rearranging Formulae
For the equation make the subject.

Subtract on both sides of the equation.

𝟏 𝟐
𝒔 − 𝒂 𝒕 =𝒖𝒕
𝟐
Divide on both sides of the equation.
𝟏 𝟐
𝒔− 𝒂𝒕
𝟐
=𝒖
𝒕

𝟏 𝟐
𝒔− 𝒂𝒕
𝟐
𝒖=
𝒕
EXAMPLE 2 – Rearranging Formulae
For the equation make the subject.
Subtract on both sides of the equation.
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝒂 =𝒄 − 𝒃

Square root both sides of the equation

𝒂= √ 𝒄 −𝒃𝟐 𝟐
EXAMPLE 2 – Rearranging Formulae
For the equation make the subject.

Divide by on both sides of the equation.

𝑨 𝟐
=𝒓
𝝅
Square root both sides of the equation.

√ 𝑨
𝝅
=𝒓

𝒓=
𝑨
𝝅 √
EXAMPLE 2 – Rearranging Formulae
For the equation make the subject.
EXAMPLE 2 – Rearranging Formulae
For the equation make the subject.