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This module is from Fundamentals of Mathematics by Denny Burzynski and Wade Ellis, Jr. This module discusses how to solve equations of the form x + a = b and x - a = b . By the end of the module students should understand the meaning and function of an equation, understand what is meant by the solution to an equation and be able to solve equations of the form x + a = b size 12{x+a=b} {} and x a = b size 12{x - a=b} {} .

Section overview

  • Equations
  • Solutions and Equivalent Equations
  • Solving Equations

Equations

Equation

An equation is a statement that two algebraic expressions are equal.

The following are examples of equations:

x + 6 This expression = = 10 This expression x - 4 This expression = = - 11 This expression 3 y - 5 This expression = = - 2 + 2 y This expression

Notice that x + 6 size 12{x+6} {} , x 4 size 12{x - 4} {} , and 3 y 5 size 12{3y - 5} {} are not equations. They are expressions. They are not equations because there is no statement that each of these expressions is equal to another expression.

Solutions and equivalent equations

Conditional equations

The truth of some equations is conditional upon the value chosen for the variable. Such equations are called conditional equations . There are two additional types of equations. They are examined in courses in algebra, so we will not consider them now.

Solutions and solving an equation

The set of values that, when substituted for the variables, make the equation true, are called the solutions of the equation.
An equation has been solved when all its solutions have been found.

Sample set a

Verify that 3 is a solution to x + 7 = 10 size 12{x+7 = "10"} {} .

When x = 3 size 12{x=3} {} ,

x + 7 = 10 becomes 3 + 7 = 10 10 = 10 which is a  true  statement, verifying that 3   is a solution to   x + 7 = 10

Verify that - 6 is a solution to 5 y + 8 = 22 size 12{5y+8= - "22"} {}

When y = - 6 size 12{y=-6} {} ,

5 y + 8 = - 22 becomes 5 ( - 6 ) + 8 = - 22 - 30 + 8 = - 22 - 22 = - 22 which is a  true  statement, verifying that - is a solution to 5 y + 8 = - 22

Verify that 5 is not a solution to a 1 = 2 a + 3 size 12{a - 1=2a+3} {} .

When a = 5 size 12{a=5} {} ,

a - 1 = 2 a + 3 becomes 5 - 1 = 2 5 + 3 5 - 1 = 10 + 3 4 = 13 a  false  statement, verifying that   5   is not a solution to  a - 1 = 2 a + 3

Verify that -2 is a solution to 3 m 2 = 4 m 16 size 12{3m - 2= - 4m - "16"} {} .

When m = - 2 size 12{x=3} {} ,

3 m - 2 = - 4 m - 16 becomes 3 ( - 2 ) - 2 = - 4 ( - 2 ) - 16 - 6 - 2 = 8 - 16 - 8 = - 8 which is a   true  statement, verifying that - 2   is a solution to  3 m - 2 = - 4 m - 16

Practice set a

Verify that 5 is a solution to m + 6 = 11 size 12{m+6="11"} {} .

Substitute 5 into m + 6 = 11 size 12{m+6="11"} {} . Does 5 plus 6 equal 11? Yes. Thus, 5 is a solution.

Verify that - 5 is a solution to 2 m 4 = 14 size 12{2m - 4= - "14"} {} .

Substitute -5 into 2 m 4 = 14 size 12{2m - 4= - "14"} {} . does 2 time negative 5 minus 4 equal negative 14? Yes. Thus, -5 is a solution.

Verify that 0 is a solution to 5 x + 1 = 1 size 12{5x+1=1} {} .

Substitute 0 into 5 x + 1 = 1 size 12{5x+1=1} {} . Does 5 times zero plus one equal 1? Yes. Thus, 0 is a solution.

Verify that 3 is not a solution to 3 y + 1 = 4 y + 5 size 12{ - 3y+1=4y+5} {} .

Substitute 3 into 3 y + 1 = 4 y + 5 size 12{ - 3y+1=4y+5} {} . Does negative 3 times 3 plus 1 equal 4 times 3 plus 5? No. Thus, 3 is not a solution.

Verify that -1 is a solution to 6 m 5 + 2 m = 7 m 6 size 12{6m - 5+2m=7m - 6} {} .

Substitute -1 into 6 m 5 + 2 m = 7 m 6 size 12{6m - 5+2m=7m - 6} {} . Does 6 times negative 1 minus 5 plus 2 times negative 1 equal 7 times negative 1 minus 6? Yes. Thus, -1 is a solution.

Equivalent equations

Some equations have precisely the same collection of solutions. Such equations are called equivalent equations. For example, x - 5 = - 1 size 12{"x - 5 "=" -1"} {} , x + 7 = 11 size 12{"x "+" 7 "=" 11"} {} , and x = 4 size 12{x=4} {} are all equivalent equations since the only solution to each is x = 4 size 12{x=4} {} . (Can you verify this?)

Solving equations

We know 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 number is the same as this number
x size 12{x} {} = 4
x + 7 size 12{x+7} {} = 11
x 5 size 12{x - 5} {} = -1

Questions & Answers

What are the factors that affect demand for a commodity
Florence Reply
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Lambiv Reply
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Lambiv
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Lambiv
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Venny Reply
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Eliyee
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WARKISA
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Lambiv
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appreciation
Eliyee
explain perfect market
Lindiwe Reply
In economics, a perfect market refers to a theoretical construct where all participants have perfect information, goods are homogenous, there are no barriers to entry or exit, and prices are determined solely by supply and demand. It's an idealized model used for analysis,
Ezea
What is ceteris paribus?
Shukri Reply
other things being equal
AI-Robot
When MP₁ becomes negative, TP start to decline. Extuples Suppose that the short-run production function of certain cut-flower firm is given by: Q=4KL-0.6K2 - 0.112 • Where is quantity of cut flower produced, I is labour input and K is fixed capital input (K-5). Determine the average product of lab
Kelo
Extuples Suppose that the short-run production function of certain cut-flower firm is given by: Q=4KL-0.6K2 - 0.112 • Where is quantity of cut flower produced, I is labour input and K is fixed capital input (K-5). Determine the average product of labour (APL) and marginal product of labour (MPL)
Kelo
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Shukri
Can I ask you other question?
Shukri
what is monopoly mean?
Habtamu Reply
What is different between quantity demand and demand?
Shukri Reply
Quantity demanded refers to the specific amount of a good or service that consumers are willing and able to purchase at a give price and within a specific time period. Demand, on the other hand, is a broader concept that encompasses the entire relationship between price and quantity demanded
Ezea
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Shukri
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Lilia Reply
what is the difference between economic growth and development
Fiker Reply
Economic growth as an increase in the production and consumption of goods and services within an economy.but Economic development as a broader concept that encompasses not only economic growth but also social & human well being.
Shukri
production function means
Jabir
What do you think is more important to focus on when considering inequality ?
Abdisa Reply
any question about economics?
Awais Reply
sir...I just want to ask one question... Define the term contract curve? if you are free please help me to find this answer 🙏
Asui
it is a curve that we get after connecting the pareto optimal combinations of two consumers after their mutually beneficial trade offs
Awais
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Asui
In economics, the contract curve refers to the set of points in an Edgeworth box diagram where both parties involved in a trade cannot be made better off without making one of them worse off. It represents the Pareto efficient allocations of goods between two individuals or entities, where neither p
Cornelius
In economics, the contract curve refers to the set of points in an Edgeworth box diagram where both parties involved in a trade cannot be made better off without making one of them worse off. It represents the Pareto efficient allocations of goods between two individuals or entities,
Cornelius
Suppose a consumer consuming two commodities X and Y has The following utility function u=X0.4 Y0.6. If the price of the X and Y are 2 and 3 respectively and income Constraint is birr 50. A,Calculate quantities of x and y which maximize utility. B,Calculate value of Lagrange multiplier. C,Calculate quantities of X and Y consumed with a given price. D,alculate optimum level of output .
Feyisa Reply
Answer
Feyisa
c
Jabir
the market for lemon has 10 potential consumers, each having an individual demand curve p=101-10Qi, where p is price in dollar's per cup and Qi is the number of cups demanded per week by the i th consumer.Find the market demand curve using algebra. Draw an individual demand curve and the market dema
Gsbwnw Reply
suppose the production function is given by ( L, K)=L¼K¾.assuming capital is fixed find APL and MPL. consider the following short run production function:Q=6L²-0.4L³ a) find the value of L that maximizes output b)find the value of L that maximizes marginal product
Abdureman
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Source:  OpenStax, Algebra i for the community college. OpenStax CNX. Dec 19, 2014 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11598/1.3
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