<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

x + 1 = 10

conditional, x = 9

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

y 4 = 7

conditional, y = 11

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

5 a = 25

conditional, a = 5

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

x 4 = 9

conditional, x = 36

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

18 b = 6

conditional, b = 3

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

y 2 = y 2

identity

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

x + 4 = x 3

contradiction

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

x + x + x = 3 x

identity

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

8 x = 0

conditional, x = 0

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

m 7 = 5

conditional, m = 2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Literal equations

Literal equations

Some equations involve more than one variable. Such equations are called literal equations .

An equation is solved for a particular variable if that variable alone equals an expression that does not contain that particular variable.

    The following equations are examples of literal equations.

  1. y = 2 x + 7 . It is solved for y .
  2. d = r t . It is solved for d .
  3. I = p r t . It is solved for I .
  4. z = x u s . It is solved for z .
  5. y + 1 = x + 4 . This equation is not solved for any particular variable since no variable is isolated.

Solving equation of the form x + a = b and x a = b

Recall that the equal sign of an equation indicates that the number represented by the expression on the left side is the same as the number represented by the expression on the right side.

This is the this number same as number x = 6 x + 2 = 8 x 1 = 5

    This suggests the following procedures:

  1. We can obtain an equivalent equation (an equation having the same solutions as the original equation) by adding the same number to both sides of the equation.
  2. We can obtain an equivalent equation by subtracting the same number from both sides of the equation.

We can use these results to isolate x , thus solving for x .

Solving x + a = b For x

x + a = b The a is associated with x by addition . Undo the association x + a a = b a by subtracting a from b o t h sides . x + 0 = b a a a = 0 and 0 is the additive identity . x + 0 = x . x = b a This equation is equivalent to the first equation, and it is solved for x .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Solving x a = b For x

x a = b The a is associated with x by subtraction . Undo the association x a + a = b + a by adding a to b o t h sides . x + 0 = b + a a + a = 0 and 0 is the additive identity . x + 0 = x . x = b + a This equation is equivalent to the first equation, and it is solved for x .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Method for solving x + a = b And x a = b For x

To solve the equation x + a = b for x , subtract a from both sides of the equation.
To solve the equation x a = b for x , add a to both sides of the equation.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Sample set b

Solve x + 7 = 10 for x .

x + 7 = 10 7 is associated with x by addition . Undo the association x + 7 7 = 10 7 by subtracting 7 from b o t h sides . x + 0 = 3 7 7 = 0 and 0 is the additive identity . x + 0 = x . x = 3 x is isolated, and the equation x = 3 is equivalent to the original equation x + 7 = 10. Therefore, these two equation have the same solution . The solution to x = 3 is clearly 3. Thus, the solution to x + 7 = 10 is also 3.

Check : Substitute 3 for x in the original equation. x + 7 = 10 3 + 7 = 10 Is this correct? 10 = 10 Yes, this is correct .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Solve m 2 = 9 for m .

m 2 = 9 2 is associated with m by subtraction . Undo the association m 2 + 2 = 9 + 2 by adding 2 from b o t h sides . m + 0 = 7 2 + 2 = 0 and 0 is the additive identity . m + 0 = m . m = 7

Check : Substitute 7 for m in the original equation. m 2 = 9 7 2 = 9 Is this correct? 9 = 9 Yes, this is correct .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Use a calculator to solve this equation. Solve y 2.181 = 16.915 for y .

y 2.181 = 16.915 y 2.181 + 2.181 = 16.915 + 2.181 y = 14.734

On the Calculator
Type 16.915 Press + / Press + Type 2.181 Press = Display reads: 14.734

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Solve y + m = s for y .

y + m = s m is associated with y by addition . Undo the association y + m m = s m by subtracting m from b o t h sides . y + 0 = s m m m = 0 and 0 is the additive identity . y + 0 = y . y = s m

Check : Substitute s m for y in the original equation. y + m = s s m + m = s Is this correct? s = s True Yes, this is correct .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Solve k 3 h = 8 h + 5 for k .

k 3 h = 8 h + 5 3 h is associated with k by subtraction . Undo the association k 3 h + 3 h = 8 h + 5 + 3 h by adding 3 h to b o t h sides . k + 0 = 5 h + 5 3 h + 3 h = 0 and 0 is the additive identity . k + 0 = k . k = 5 h + 5

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Practice set b

Solve y 3 = 8 for y .

y = 11

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Solve x + 9 = 4 for x .

x = 13

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Solve m + 6 = 0 for m .

m = 6

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Solve g 7.2 = 1.3 for g .

g = 8.5

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

solve f + 2 d = 5 d for f .

f = 3 d

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Solve x + 8 y = 2 y 1 for x .

x = 6 y 1

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Solve y + 4 x 1 = 5 x + 8 for y .

y = x + 9

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Exercises

For the following problems, classify each of the equations as an identity, contradiction, or conditional equation.

g + g + g + g = 4 g

identity

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

For the following problems, determine which of the literal equations have been solved for a variable. Write "solved" or "not solved."

4 a = y 6

not solved

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

For the following problems, solve each of the conditional equations.

y + 6 = 11

y = 17

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

g + 164 = 123

g = 287

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

x + 17 = 426

x = 443

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

y + 17.003 = 1.056

y = 18.059

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Solve n + m = 4 for n .

n = 4 m

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Solve P + 3 Q 8 = 0 for P .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Solve a + b 3 c = d 2 f for b .

b = a + 3 c + d 2 f

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Solve x 3 y + 5 z + 1 = 2 y 7 z + 8 for x .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Solve 4 a 2 b + c + 11 = 6 a 5 b for c .

c = 2 a 3 b 11

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Exercises for review

( [link] ) Simplify ( 4 x 5 y 2 ) 3 .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( [link] ) Write 20 x 3 y 7 5 x 5 y 3 so that only positive exponents appear.

4 y 4 x 2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( [link] ) Write the number of terms that appear in the expression 5 x 2 + 2 x 6 + ( a + b ) , and then list them.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( [link] ) Find the product. ( 3 x 1 ) 2 .

9 x 2 6 x + 1

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( [link] ) Specify the domain of the equation y = 5 x 2 .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Questions & Answers

what's Thermochemistry
rhoda Reply
the study of the heat energy which is associated with chemical reactions
Kaddija
How was CH4 and o2 was able to produce (Co2)and (H2o
Edafe Reply
explain please
Victory
First twenty elements with their valences
Martine Reply
what is chemistry
asue Reply
what is atom
asue
what is the best way to define periodic table for jamb
Damilola Reply
what is the change of matter from one state to another
Elijah Reply
what is isolation of organic compounds
IKyernum Reply
what is atomic radius
ThankGod Reply
Read Chapter 6, section 5
Dr
Read Chapter 6, section 5
Kareem
Atomic radius is the radius of the atom and is also called the orbital radius
Kareem
atomic radius is the distance between the nucleus of an atom and its valence shell
Amos
Read Chapter 6, section 5
paulino
Bohr's model of the theory atom
Ayom Reply
is there a question?
Dr
when a gas is compressed why it becomes hot?
ATOMIC
It has no oxygen then
Goldyei
read the chapter on thermochemistry...the sections on "PV" work and the First Law of Thermodynamics should help..
Dr
Which element react with water
Mukthar Reply
Mgo
Ibeh
an increase in the pressure of a gas results in the decrease of its
Valentina Reply
definition of the periodic table
Cosmos Reply
What is the lkenes
Da Reply
what were atoms composed of?
Moses Reply
what is chemistry
Imoh Reply
what is chemistry
Damilola
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Elementary algebra. OpenStax CNX. May 08, 2009 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col10614/1.3
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Elementary algebra' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask