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x + 1 = 10

conditional, x = 9

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y 4 = 7

conditional, y = 11

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5 a = 25

conditional, a = 5

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x 4 = 9

conditional, x = 36

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18 b = 6

conditional, b = 3

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y 2 = y 2

identity

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x + 4 = x 3

contradiction

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x + x + x = 3 x

identity

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8 x = 0

conditional, x = 0

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m 7 = 5

conditional, m = 2

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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 .

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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 .

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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.

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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 .

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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 .

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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

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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 .

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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

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Practice set b

Solve y 3 = 8 for y .

y = 11

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Solve x + 9 = 4 for x .

x = 13

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Solve m + 6 = 0 for m .

m = 6

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Solve g 7.2 = 1.3 for g .

g = 8.5

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solve f + 2 d = 5 d for f .

f = 3 d

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

x = 6 y 1

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

y = x + 9

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Exercises

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

g + g + g + g = 4 g

identity

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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

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

y + 6 = 11

y = 17

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g + 164 = 123

g = 287

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x + 17 = 426

x = 443

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y + 17.003 = 1.056

y = 18.059

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Solve n + m = 4 for n .

n = 4 m

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Solve P + 3 Q 8 = 0 for P .

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

b = a + 3 c + d 2 f

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

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

c = 2 a 3 b 11

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Exercises for review

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

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

4 y 4 x 2

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

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

9 x 2 6 x + 1

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

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Questions & Answers

how did you get 1640
Noor Reply
If auger is pair are the roots of equation x2+5x-3=0
Peter Reply
Wayne and Dennis like to ride the bike path from Riverside Park to the beach. Dennis’s speed is seven miles per hour faster than Wayne’s speed, so it takes Wayne 2 hours to ride to the beach while it takes Dennis 1.5 hours for the ride. Find the speed of both bikers.
MATTHEW Reply
420
Sharon
from theory: distance [miles] = speed [mph] × time [hours] info #1 speed_Dennis × 1.5 = speed_Wayne × 2 => speed_Wayne = 0.75 × speed_Dennis (i) info #2 speed_Dennis = speed_Wayne + 7 [mph] (ii) use (i) in (ii) => [...] speed_Dennis = 28 mph speed_Wayne = 21 mph
George
Let W be Wayne's speed in miles per hour and D be Dennis's speed in miles per hour. We know that W + 7 = D and W * 2 = D * 1.5. Substituting the first equation into the second: W * 2 = (W + 7) * 1.5 W * 2 = W * 1.5 + 7 * 1.5 0.5 * W = 7 * 1.5 W = 7 * 3 or 21 W is 21 D = W + 7 D = 21 + 7 D = 28
Salma
Devon is 32 32​​ years older than his son, Milan. The sum of both their ages is 54 54​. Using the variables d d​ and m m​ to represent the ages of Devon and Milan, respectively, write a system of equations to describe this situation. Enter the equations below, separated by a comma.
Aaron Reply
find product (-6m+6) ( 3m²+4m-3)
SIMRAN Reply
-42m²+60m-18
Salma
what is the solution
bill
how did you arrive at this answer?
bill
-24m+3+3mÁ^2
Susan
i really want to learn
Amira
I only got 42 the rest i don't know how to solve it. Please i need help from anyone to help me improve my solving mathematics please
Amira
Hw did u arrive to this answer.
Aphelele
hi
Bajemah
-6m(3mA²+4m-3)+6(3mA²+4m-3) =-18m²A²-24m²+18m+18mA²+24m-18 Rearrange like items -18m²A²-24m²+42m+18A²-18
Salma
complete the table of valuesfor each given equatio then graph. 1.x+2y=3
Jovelyn Reply
x=3-2y
Salma
y=x+3/2
Salma
Hi
Enock
given that (7x-5):(2+4x)=8:7find the value of x
Nandala
3x-12y=18
Kelvin
please why isn't that the 0is in ten thousand place
Grace Reply
please why is it that the 0is in the place of ten thousand
Grace
Send the example to me here and let me see
Stephen
A meditation garden is in the shape of a right triangle, with one leg 7 feet. The length of the hypotenuse is one more than the length of one of the other legs. Find the lengths of the hypotenuse and the other leg
Marry Reply
how far
Abubakar
cool u
Enock
state in which quadrant or on which axis each of the following angles given measure. in standard position would lie 89°
Abegail Reply
hello
BenJay
hi
Method
I am eliacin, I need your help in maths
Rood
how can I help
Sir
hmm can we speak here?
Amoon
however, may I ask you some questions about Algarba?
Amoon
hi
Enock
what the last part of the problem mean?
Roger
The Jones family took a 15 mile canoe ride down the Indian River in three hours. After lunch, the return trip back up the river took five hours. Find the rate, in mph, of the canoe in still water and the rate of the current.
cameron Reply
Shakir works at a computer store. His weekly pay will be either a fixed amount, $925, or $500 plus 12% of his total sales. How much should his total sales be for his variable pay option to exceed the fixed amount of $925.
mahnoor Reply
I'm guessing, but it's somewhere around $4335.00 I think
Lewis
12% of sales will need to exceed 925 - 500, or 425 to exceed fixed amount option. What amount of sales does that equal? 425 ÷ (12÷100) = 3541.67. So the answer is sales greater than 3541.67. Check: Sales = 3542 Commission 12%=425.04 Pay = 500 + 425.04 = 925.04. 925.04 > 925.00
Munster
difference between rational and irrational numbers
Arundhati Reply
When traveling to Great Britain, Bethany exchanged $602 US dollars into £515 British pounds. How many pounds did she receive for each US dollar?
Jakoiya Reply
how to reduced echelon form
Solomon Reply
Jazmine trained for 3 hours on Saturday. She ran 8 miles and then biked 24 miles. Her biking speed is 4 mph faster than her running speed. What is her running speed?
Zack Reply
d=r×t the equation would be 8/r+24/r+4=3 worked out
Sheirtina
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Source:  OpenStax, Elementary algebra. OpenStax CNX. May 08, 2009 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col10614/1.3
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