Equations

L.O.:
To
be
able
to
understand and use inverse
operations, rearrange and
solve equations.

Why learn this?

You can use an equation to work out the density
of an object when you know its mass and
volume.

Equations
Here are some examples of equations.
3x + 5 = 20
5(3y + 4) = 12y 6

2(a + 3) = 8
x-2
3

=1-x

1) An equation must always have an = sign because

one side of the equation is always equal to the other
side.

3x + 5 = 20
left-hand side

rigt-hand side

2) The expression before the equals sign is called the

left-hand side (LHS) of the equation
3) The expression after the equals sign is called the
right-hand side (RHS) of the equation

4) The equation 3x + 5 = 20 can also be

written as 20 = 3x + 5

5) The solution of an equation is the value of the

letter (the unknown) that makes the equation true.
The solution of 3x + 5 = 20 is x = 5 because when
you replace x by 5 you get a true statement:
3 x 5 + 5 = 15 + 5 = 20

Setting Up Equations
Equations can be used to solve problems.

Example 1
Kevin thinks of a number.
Let n be the number that Kevin thinks of
He doubles the number then adds 7.
Double the number n giving 2n, and add 7: 2n

+7

His answer is 19.

Set up the equation by writing 2n + 7 = 19
Work out the number that Kevin tinks of.
Solve the equation by subtracting 7 from both sides
and dividing both sides by 2: n = 6

1. Tom thought of a number.

He then multiplied his number by 3.

He added 4 to the answer.

3x

3x + 4

He then doubled the answer to get a final

value of 38. 2(3x + 4) = 38
What number did he start with?
2(3x + 4) = 38
3x + 4 = 19
3x = 15
x=5

Example 2
All the angles are
degrees.

measured

in

a)Write down na expression, in terms

of x, for the sum of the angles of this
triangle.
Add the three angles and collect like terms:

x
2x
2x + 90

x + 2x + 2x + 90 = 5x + 90

b)By setting up na equation, work

out the value of x.

The sum of the angles of a triangle = 180: 5x + 90 = 180

Subtract 90 from both sides: 5x = 90
Divide both sides by 5: x = 18

2. For each diagram form and solve an

equation to find x.
a)

b)
x = 10

d)

x = 43

e)

x = 55

c)
x = 46

f)

x=7

x=5

3. Alice is x years old.

Anna is two years older than Alice.
If the sum of their ages is 24, write an equation
in terms of x and solve your equation to find
Annas age.
Alice
Anna

x
x+2

x + x+2

= 24

2x + 2 = 24
2x = 22
x = 11
Anna is 13 years old.

4. The rectangle shown as a perimeter of 40 cm.

a) Write an equation in terms of x, using this

information, and solve it.
b) Find the area of the rectangle.
2(x + 3) + 2(3x + 1) = 40
2x + 6 + 6x + 2 = 40
8x + 8 = 40
8x = 32
x=4
length = 13 cm

width = 7 cm

Area = 13 x 7 = 91 cm2

Plenary
The diagram shows a kite. All lengths are in
centimetres.

a)Find the values of x and y.

b)Find the area of the kite.

x = 3 and

y=8

Area 309.42
cm2

5.Write down an equation, in terms of x, and work

out the size of each angle of this quadrilateral.

x + 2x + 10 + x + 30 + 80 = 360
4x + 120 = 360
4x = 240
x = 60
The size of the angles in the quadrilateral
are: 80, 60, 130 and 90.

6.Write an equation for each diagram and solve

it to find length x.

Shaded area = 32

Shaded area = 203

a) 4(x 3) = 32
b) x2 - 112 = 203
c) (x - 2)2 = 144

Shaded area = 144

x = 11
x = 18
x = 10

7.The diagram shows a square and a rectangle.

The lengths of the edges are given in centimeters.
The perimeter of the square is equal to the
perimeter of the rectangle.

a)Write down an equation, in terms of x, using this

4x + 12 = 6x - 2
information.
b) By solving your equation, work out the area of
the square and of the rectangle.
x=7

Asquare = 100 cm2

Arectangle = 75 cm2

8. A boy is y years old.

His father is 25 years old then he is.
The sum of their ages is 31.
How old is the boy?
y + y + 25 = 31
y = 3 The boy is 3 years old.

9. Another boy is x years old.

His sister is twice as old as he is.
The sum of their ages is 27.
How old is the boy?
x + 2x = 27
y = 9 The boy is 9 years old.

Plenary
The diagram shows a square.

Find the area if the perimeter is 44 cm.

4(4x 1) = 44
4x 1 = 11
4x = 12
x=3

is the length of the side

of the square

Area = 112 = 121 cm2

10. This rectangle has an area of 200 cm 2.

Use an algebraic method to find the length and
width of the rectangle.

5x 20 = 2x + 4
3x = 24
x=8
Length = 20 cm
cm

Width = 200 20 = 10

11. Three angles of a triangle are

consecutive numbers.
Write an equation, in terms of x,
that shows this information and
solve it to find the consecutive numbers.
x + x + 1 + x + 2 = 180
3x + 3 = 180
3x = 177
x = 59
The sizes of the angles are 59, 60 and
61.

12. Find the size of the smallest angle in the

triangle.

3 x 11x 20

90 180
2
4
3 x 11x 20

90
2
4
6 x 11x 20 360
17x 340
x 20

3x
3 20

30
2
2
11 20 20
240

60
4
4

The size of the smallest

angle in the triangle is

13.The lengths, in centimetres, of the two smallest

sides of a triangle rectangle are 4s and 3s.
The area of the triangle is 54 cm2.

4s
3s
Pythagoras
Theorem
Find the length of the largest side
of
this
triangle.
2
2
2

(4s x 3s) 2 = 54
12s2 = 108
s2 = 9
s = 3 so 3s = 9 and 4s =
12

l = 9 + 12
l2 = 225
l = 15
Largest side = 15
cm

14.Kai is p years of age. Kais father is three times

as old as Kai.
In 5 years time kais father will be 47 years of
age.
Write down an equation, in terms of p, to show
this information and solve it to find Kais present
age.
3p + 5 = 47
3p = 42
p = 14
Kai is 14 years old.

Plenary
A cube has faces with an area of 16y2 cm2.
Four such cubes are used to make a cuboid
as shown.
a) Write an expression for the surface area of the
cuboid. 16y2 x 4 x 6 = 384 y2
b) The volume of the cuboid is 13 824 cm 3. Find
the value of y.

Side length of the cuboid =

8y

Or 8y =

13 824 y = 3

(8y)3 = 13 824
512y3 = 13
824
y3 = 27
y=3

Plenary
The area of the triangle is 37.5 cm 2.
The base is the double of the height.
What are the base and the height of the triangle?
[x2 + 1 + (x2 + 1)2] 2 = 37.5

x2 + 1 + (x2 + 1)2 = 75
2x2 + 2 + x2 + 1 =150
3x2 + 3 = 150
3x2 = 147
x2 =49
x=7