solve linear equation w/many operations

Contents & Resource Pages:  
Solve:   x - 6 = -12       Solve:   x + 6 = -12       Solve:   x/6 = -12       Solve:   6x = -12

Solve:   - x = -12       Solve:   5x/6 = -12       Solve:   3 + 2x = - 1

Solve:   3 + 2x = 4x - 1      Solve:   3x + 4(x -1) = 2      Solve:   4x + 2 - 3x + 5 - 2(x + 5) = (2x - 5) + (3x + 4)

consecutive integer expressions, equations       Solving Equation on Graphing Calculators

Intro to Solving Linear Equations                   One Operation Equations  
More Than One Operation Equations           Solve Linear Equation w/Many Operations 
Solutions to a Linear Equation & Solving Linear Equations Graphically
Linear Equation Solver - The Page Does The Work


Intro

      Equations come in many "flavors."   At this point, you should know how to solve the first 8 equations listed below.   This page deals with how to solve equation 9, which is often difficult for the student lacking confidence, and equation 10.

      Use the above links to review the material if you are not able to solve equations 1 through 8.

Solve equations which require undoing 1 operation
1.) x - 6 = -12
2.) x + 6 = -12
3.) x/6 = -12
4.) 6x = -12
5.) - x = -12
6.) 5x/6 = -12
Solve equations which require undoing 2 operations
7.) 3 + 2x = - 1
8.) 3x + 4(x -1) = 2
Solve equations which require undoing many operations, some on each side.
9.) 3 + 2x = 4x - 1
10.) 4x + 2 - 3x + 5 - 2(x + 5) = (2x - 5) + (3x + 4)

      Equation 10 is about as messy as a linear equation gets. Notice that the equivalent equation "-x - 3 = 5x - 1, " in the middle of the problem, is the same in format at equation 9, "3 + 2x = 4x - 1."

      Notice in equation 10, that until you get to the equation "-x - 3 = 5x - 1, " all that's been done is combining like terms.

10.)   Solve:
4x + 2 - 3x + 5 - 2(x + 5) = (2x - 5) + (3x + 4)
4x + 2 - 3x + 5  - 2x - 10 =   2x - 5 +   3x + 4
4x - 3x - 2x + 5 + 2 - 10  =  2x + 3x - 5 + 4
        - x             - 3           =       5x       - 1  
-x - 3 = 5x - 1 is the line above recopied
+x     = +x      
   -3   = 6x - 1
   +1   =    + 1
   - 2   = 6x
   - 2/6 = 6x/6
   - 1/3 = x, the answer
 

      After the equation "-x - 3 = 5x - 1," terms are combined from one side to the other using the following rules.

      Here's the solution of the equation "-x - 3 = 5x - 1." The equation has been solved twice showing that it doesn't matter which on which side the variables are collected.

      Put the variables on one side. Put the constants on the other.

10.)   Solve:
-x - 3 = 5x - 1
+x     = +x      
   -3   = 6x - 1
   +1   =    + 1
   - 2   = 6x
   - 2/6 = 6x/6
   - 1/3 = x, the answer
    10.)   Solve:
-x - 3 = 5x - 1
-5x     = -5x      
  -6x - 3  =     - 1
        +3   =    + 3
   - 6x = +2
   (- 6x)/(-6) = (+2)/(-6)
   x = -1/3, the answer
 
 
 
Solve:   3 + 2x = 4x - 1

      Illustrated below is that it doesn't matter on which side the variable is placed.

9.)   Solve:
3 + 2x = 4x - 1
     -2x = -2x      
3         = 2x - 1
 +1   =        + 1
    4   = 2x
    4/2 = 2x/2
    2 = x, the answer
    9.)   Solve:
3 + 2x = 4x - 1
      -4x = -4x      
  3 - 2x  =     - 1
  -3         =    - 3
       - 2x = -4
   (- 2x)/(-2) = (-4)/(-2)
   x = 2, the answer
 

      Again, the steps in solving an equation like "ax +b = cx + d."

 
 
Problems
Solve & show work.
11.)     3(x+1)+2(x-3)=9
 
12.)     4x + 2 = 5x - 3
 
13.)     2x + 5 = 7x - 2
 
14.)     24 - 5x = 4x + 6
 
15.)     4x - 5 = 4x + 1
 
16.)     4(x+1) + 3x + 2 = 7x + 6
 
 



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