Solving Linear Equations in One Variable

							Solving Linear Equations in One Variable                                    Sept 09, 2009

Examples:                                                                   Check Solutions


1.      3x  5  1                                                          3( 2 )  5  1
            3x  6         Add 5 to both sides of the equation                  6  5  1
             x  2         Divide both sides of equation by 3                        1 1 


2.     5x  1  x  7
       4x  1  7          Subtract x from both sides of equation
            4x  8         Add 1 to both sides of equation
            x  2          Divide both sides of equation by 4


3.      4 x  1  2( 2 x  3 )
        4 x  1  4 x  6 Distribute by multiplying 2 into parenthesis
              1  6       Subtract 4x from both sides of equation
           No Solution     Variables disappear leaving false statement


4.     3( x  5 )  3 x  15
         3 x  15  3 x  15      Distribute by multiplying 3 into parenthesis
                15  15           Subtract 3x from both sides of equation
       Infinite Solutions         Variables disappear leaving true statement


        x   3x
5.             2
        3   4

         x   3x    
     12         2      Clear fractions by multiplying equation by LCD
         3    4    

       4 x  9 x  24      Distribute by multiplying 12 into parenthesis

            13 x  24      Combine like terms
                   24
               x          Divide both sides of the equation by 13
                   13