268

EQUATIONS (Chapter 13)

In general, we follow these steps to solve equations:

Step 1:

If necessary, expand out any brackets.

Step 2:

Simplify each side of the equation by collecting like terms.

Step 3:

If necessary, remove the unknown from one side of the equation using an inverse
operation.

Step 4:

Solve in the usual way.

Example 12

Self Tutor

Solve for d: 2d + 3(d 1) = 7

2d + 3(d 1) = 7
)

2d + 3d 3 = 7
) 5d 3 = 7
) 5d 3 + 3 = 7 + 3
) 5d = 10
5d
10
)
=
5
5
) d=2

fexpanding bracketsg
fcollecting like termsg
fadding 3 to both sidesg
fdividing both sides by 5g

Check: LHS = 2(2) + 3(2 1) = 4 + 3 = 7 = RHS

EXERCISE 13F
1 Solve the following equations:
a 3x + 4x = 14
c 2x 5 x + 7 = 12

b 3x + 4 6x = 46
d 2y 15 + 3y + 3 = 24

e 3x + 2(x 3) = 8
x
g x+ =3
2
x
i x =4
3

f 2(a + 3) + 3(a 2) = 18
x
h 3x + = 15
2
x
j 2x = 14
4

Example 13

Self Tutor

Solve for x: 3x + 2 = x + 14

)
)

3x + 2 = x + 14
3x + 2 x = x + 14 x
) 2x + 2 = 14
2x + 2 2 = 14 2
) 2x = 12
) x=6

fsubtracting x from both sidesg

fsimplifyingg
fsubtracting 2 from both sidesg
fsimplifyingg
fdividing both sides by 2g

EQUATIONS (Chapter 13)

269

2 What operation must be done to both sides to remove x from the RHS?
a 2x + 3 = x + 8
d 2x 8 = 7x 3

b 3x 1 = 7 + x
e 2x + 7 = 5x + 25

c 4x + 6 = 2x + 6
f 3x 9 = 10x 2

b 3x 1 = 7 + x
e 2x + 7 = 5x + 25

c 4x + 6 = 2x + 6
f 3x 9 = 10x 2

3 Solve the following equations:

a 2x + 3 = x + 8
d 2x 8 = 7x 3
Example 14

Self Tutor

Solve for x: 4x + 3 = 23 x

)
)

4x + 3 = 23 x
4x + 3 + x = 23 x + x
) 5x + 3 = 23
5x + 3 3 = 23 3
) 5x = 20
) x=4

fadding x to both sidesg

fsimplifyingg
fsubtracting 3 from both sidesg
fsimplifyingg
fdividing both sides by 5g

4 What operation must be done to both sides to remove x from the RHS?
a x+4 =8x
d 2x 11 = 7 x

b 3x + 4 = 7 3x
e 7 3x = 2 8x

c 6 + 5x = 5 4x
f 9 3x = 5 6x

b 3x + 4 = 7 3x
e 7 3x = 2 8x

c 6 + 5x = 5 4x
f 9 3x = 5 6x

5 Solve the following equations:

a x+4 =8x
d 2x 11 = 7 x
Example 15

Self Tutor

Solve for x: 3(x + 2) = x 1

3(x + 2) = x 1
) 3x + 6 = x 1
3x + 6 x = x 1 x
) 2x + 6 = 1
) 2x = 7
)

x = 72

fexpanding the bracketsg

fsubtracting x from both sidesg
fsimplifyingg
fsubtracting 6 from both sidesg
fdividing both sides by 2g

6 Solve the following equations:

a 3(x 2) = x + 4

b 4(t 3) = 3 t

c 3(2y 1) = 4y 5

d 2(a + 6) = 7 2a

e 4(2b + 3) = b + 12

f 8(a + 2) = 1 + 3a

270

EQUATIONS (Chapter 13)

a Try to solve 3(a + 2) = 6 + 3a: What do you notice?

b How many values of a satisfy the equation?

a Try to solve 2(2a + 3) = 5 + 4a. What do you notice?

b How many values of a satisfy the equation?

9 Solve the following equations:
a 2 x = 3(x + 3) + 1

b 2x + 1 = 2(1 3x) + 7

c 12 x = 2(x 2) + x

d 4 + 3p = 2 + 5(1 p)

e 3x + 2(x + 1) = 8

f 4x 1 + 3(2x 2) = 4

g x + 2 4(x 1) = 11

h 2(x 1) 5(x + 2) = 8

i 3(1 x) 2(2 x) = 4

j 5(x 2) + 3(1 2x) = 6

k 4(2x 3) 5(3x + 1) = 2

l 3 2x (x + 4) = 11

m 2(1 3x) (5 x) = 7

n 4x + 2(x 1) + x = 9

10 Solve the following equations:

a 12(x 1) = 3(2x + 1) + 9

b 3(2p 1) = 5(1 p) + 3

c 2(5x + 1) + 2 = 3(x 1)

d 6(x 4) + 2(x + 5) = 3(x 1) + 4

e x 5 (2x + 1) = 4x + 3

f 3 2x = 4(x + 1) 3(1 x)

g 4x + 2(1 x) = 5 (1 4x)

h 5 (2 3x) = 11 (5 4x)

i x = 3(2x 1) 4(2 x)

j 2(x 2) 3(5 x) = 4(2x + 1)

KEY WORDS USED IN THIS CHAPTER

algebraic equation
inverse operation

flowchart
solution

identity

REVIEW SET 13A

1

a State the inverse of 5.

b Find the result of adding 7 to both sides of 3x 7 = 5.
c Solve 2x = 8 by inspection.

2 One of the numbers 3, 1, 2, or 5 is the solution to the equation

8 2x = 2 + x. Find the solution by trial and error.
3 Copy and complete the following flowcharts:
a

x +8

4 x

4 Use a flowchart to show how the following expressions are built up from x:
x+4
b 4x 5
a
6
5 Use a flowchart to show how to isolate x from the following expressions:
x
+8
b 3(x 9)
a
5