SOLVING LINEAR EQUATIONS

SOLVING LINEAR EQUATIONS

Read the following:

A linear equation is a polynomial of degree 1.
In order to solve for the unknown variable, you must isolate the variable.
In the order of operation, multiplication and division are completed before addition and subtraction.

LINEAR EQUATIONS - Solve for x in the following equation.

Example 1:

5 x - 6 = 3 x - 8

Subtract 3x from both sides of the equation:

Add 6 to both sides of the equation:

Divide both sides by 2:

The answer is x = - 1

Check the solution by substituting -1 in the original equation for x. If the left side of the equation equals the right side of the equation after the substitution, you have found the correct answer.

Left side: 5(-1) - 6 = - 11
Right side: 3(-1) - 8 = - 11

If you would like to work another example, click example.
If you would like to test yourself by working some problems similar to this example, click problem.

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