"Linear" equations are equations with just a plain old variable like "x", rather than something more complicated like x2 orx/y or square roots or such. Linear equations are the simplest equations that you'll deal with. To solve it, you need to get "x" by itself on one side of the equal sign, and a number on the other side.
Take a look at this equation: X + 3 = 6
In order to get "X" by itself, you will need to subtract 3 from both sides.
X + 3-3 = 6-3 X = 3
Solve x/5 = –6
Since the x is divided by 5, I'll want to multiply both sides by 5:
solving animation: x = -30
Then the solution is x = –30.
for a more in-depth description of the problem, click here
In the above solution (displayed in the animation), I multiplied by 5 on the right-hand side of the equation, and by 5/1 on the left-hand side. Since 5 = 5/1, this was a legitimate thing to do; I was being "fair" and doing the same thing to both sides of the equation. But why did I do it? Because it is often easier to keep track of what you're doing, when working with fractions, if all the numbers involved are in fractional form. Since I was needing to cancel a 1/5 on the left-hand side, it was useful to multiply by 5 in the form 5/1
Take a look at this equation: X + 3 = 6
In order to get "X" by itself, you will need to subtract 3 from both sides.
X + 3-3 = 6-3
X = 3
- Solve x/5 = –6
Since the x is divided by 5, I'll want to multiply both sides by 5:Then the solution is x = –30.
for a more in-depth description of the problem, click here
In the above solution (displayed in the animation), I multiplied by 5 on the right-hand side of the equation, and by 5/1 on the left-hand side. Since 5 = 5/1, this was a legitimate thing to do; I was being "fair" and doing the same thing to both sides of the equation. But why did I do it? Because it is often easier to keep track of what you're doing, when working with fractions, if all the numbers involved are in fractional form. Since I was needing to cancel a 1/5 on the left-hand side, it was useful to multiply by 5 in the form 5/1