An equation is a mathematical sentence with an equal sign.

To translate a word sentence into an equation,

choose a variable to represent one of the unspecified numbers or measures in the sentence. This is called
defining a variable. Then use the variable to write equations for the unspecified numbers.

Example 1 Translate each sentence into an equation.

a. Twice a number increased by fourteen is identical to fifty.
b. Half the sum of seven and a number is the same as the number decreased by two.
c. The quotient of m and n equals four more than one-third the sum of m and n .
d. The cube of x plus the square of y is equal to fifty two.

Solution a. Let c be the number. Define a variable.

2c 14 50
Twice a number c increased by fourteen is identical to fifty.

b. Let n be the number. Define a variable.

1
(7 n) n 2
2 is the same as the number decreased by two.
the sum of 7
Half and a number

m 1
c. 4 (m n )
n 3
The quotient equals four more than one-third the sum of mand n.
of m and n

d. x3 y2 52
The cube of x plus the square of y is equal to fifty two.

Consecutive Numbers
Consecutive Integers . . . , 3, 2, 1, 0, 1, 2, 3, . . . n , n 1 , n 2 are three consecutive
integers if n is an integer.
Consecutive Even Integers . . . , 6, 4, 2, 0, 2, 4, 6, . . . n , n 2 , n 4 are three consecutive
even integers if n is an even integer.
Consecutive Odd Integers . . . , 5, 3, 1, 1, 3, 5, . . . n , n 2 , n 4 are three consecutive
odd integers if n is an odd integer.

Example 2 Write an equation to represent the given relationship between integers.

a. The sum of four consecutive integers is 54 .
b. The product of three consecutive odd integers is 693.

Solution a. Let n be the first integer. Define a variable.

n (n 1) (n 2) (n 3) 54
The sum of four consecutive integers is 54

b. Let n be the first odd integer. Define a variable.

n(n 2)(n 4) 693
The product of three consecutive odd integers is 693
 Exercise - Writing Equations

1 6
Eighteen more than the number n is 125. The sum of three fourths of the number a
What is the value of n ? and 24 is negative 9. What is the value of a ?

A) 44
B) 20
C) 20
2 D) 44
Twenty is 7 less than twice the number w .
What is the value of w ?
7

A number g is decreased by 23 and then

1
multiplied by . The result is 8 more than
2
twice the number g .

3
A) 13
Nine less than twice x is three more than x .
What is the value of x ? 34
B)
3
29
C)
3
D) 8

4
Eight less than four times the number c is twenty. 8
What is the value of c ?
The quotient of p and q is twelve less than
three times the sum of p and q .

Which of the following equations represents the

statement above?

p
5 A) (3 p q ) 12
q
The sum of four consecutive odd integers is 296 .
What is the greatest of the four consecutive odd p
B) 12 (3 p q )
integers? q

p
C) 3( p q ) 12
q

p
D) 12 3( p q)
q
To solve an equation means to find all values of the variable that make the equation a true statement.
One way to do this is to isolate the variable that has a coefficient of 1 onto one side of the equation.
You can do this using the rules of algebra called properties of equality.

Symbols Examples
1. Addition Property If a b , then a c b c. If x 3 5 , then ( x 3) 3 (5) 3 .
2. Subtraction Property If a b , then a c b c. If x 2 6 , then ( x 2) 2 (6) 2 .
1 1
3. Multiplication Property If a b , then ca cb . If x 3 , then 2x 2 3.
2 2
a b 3 x 15
4. Division Property If a b and c 0 , then . If 3 x 15 , then .
c c 3 3

Example 1 Solve each equation.

a. a ( 11) 25 b. 24 8y

Solution a. a ( 11) 25
a ( 11) 11 25 11 Add 11 to each side.
a 14 11 11 0 and 25 11 14

b. 24 8y
24 8y
Divide each side by 8.
8 8
24 8y
3 y 3 and y
8 8

Many equations require more than one operation to solve. Such equations are called multi-step equations.
To solve multi-step equations, first simplify each side of the equation, if needed, and then use inverse
operations to isolate the variable.

4 1
Example 2 Solve ( x 5) ( x 10) 21 .
5 5

4 1
Solution ( x 5) ( x 10) 19
5 5
4 1
x 4 x 2 19 Distributive Property
5 5
3
x 2 19 Simplify.
5
3
x 2 2 19 2 Add 2 to each side.
5
3
x 21 Simplify.
5
5 3 5 5
( x) (21) Multiply each side by .
3 5 3 3
x 35 Simplify.
 Exercise - Solving Equations

1 6
11 x 9 Two and three fifths of a number equals 26 .
What is the number?
Given the above equation, what is the value of
20 (11 x) ?
A) 15
B) 10
C) 5
D) 10

2
If 33 a a 27 5a , what is the value of
33 3a ? 7
There are one hundred forty-two students in a high
school band. These students represent two ninth
of the total students in the high school. How many
students attend the school?

A) 587
3
B) 613
1 3
If x 3 x , what is the value of x ? C) 639
2 4
D) 665

8
4
820c 380r 4,360
If x (3 2 x) (4 5 x) 7 , what is the value
of x ? The above equation models the amount of calories
in a snack of c cups of cashews and r cups of
raisins. The amount of calories per cup of cashews
is 820 and the amount of calories per cup of raisins
is 380. According to the equation, how many cups
of raisins are used, if 3 cups of cashews are used to
make the snack?
5
A) 3
If three quarters of a number decreased by twenty
is equal to eighty two, what is that number? B) 4
C) 5
D) 6
Some equations have variables on both sides. To solve such equations, first use the Addition or Subtraction
Property of Equality to write an equivalent equation that has all of the variables on one side. Then use the
Multiplication or Division Property of Equality to simplify the equation if necessary. When solving equations
that contain grouping symbols, use the Distributive Property to remove the grouping symbols.

Example 1 Solve each equation.

7 1
a. x 8 6 x b. 5 3(k 1) k
3 3

7 1
Solution a. x 8 6 x
3 3
7 1 1 1 1
x 8 x 6 x x Subtract x from each side.
3 3 3 3 3
2x 8 6 Simplify.
2x 8 8 6 8 Add 8 to each side.
2 x 14 Simplify.
2 x 14
Divide each side by 2 .
2 2
x 7 Simplify.

b. 5 3(k 1) k
5 3k 3 k Distributive Property
2 3k k Simplify.
2 3k k k k Add k to each side.
2 2k 0 Simplify.
2 2k 2 0 2 Subtract 2 from each side.
2k 2 Simplify.
2k 2
Divide each side by 2 .
2 2
k 1 Simplify.

Example 2 Four times the sum of three and a number equals nine less than the number.
a. Write an equation for the problem. b. Then solve the equation.

Solution a. 4(3 n) n 9

b. 12 4n n 9 Distributive Property
12 4n n n 9 n Subtract n from each side.
12 3n 9 Simplify.
12 3n 12 9 12 Subtract 12 from each side.
3n 21 Simplify.
3n 21
Divide each side by 3 .
3 3
n 7 Simplify.
 Exercise - Solving Equations with Variables on Both Sides

1 5
If 7 n 3 2 n 12 , what is the value of n 3? A $48 shirts costs $22 more than one half the cost
of a pair of pants. How much does the pair of pants
cost?

2 6

3 Twice a number n , increased by 11 is the same

If 7(h 5) 3h h , what is the value as six times the number decreased by 9. What is
2
the value of n ?
1
of h?
7

3 7
r s 39 One half of a number increased by 3 is five less
3 11 33 than two thirds of the number.

Given the above equation, if s 2 , what is the

value of r ?

4 8

9 2k Four times the greatest of three consecutive odd

If k 2 , what is the value of k ? integers exceeds three times the least by 31.
3 What is the greatest of the three consecutive
odd integers?
It is possible that an equation may have no solution. That is, there is no value of the variable that will result in
a true equation. It is also possible that an equation may be true for all values of the variable. Such an equation
is called an identity.

Example 1 Solve each equation. If the equation has no solution or it is an identity,

write no solution or identity.
a. 2(1 x) 5 x 3( x 1)

b. 5w 3(1 w) 2(3 w)

1
c. (8 y 6) 5 y ( y 3)
2

Solution a. 2(1 x) 5 x 3( x 1)
2 2x 5 x 3x 3 Distributive property
2 3x 3x 3 Simplify.
2 3x 3x 3x 3 3x Subtract 3x from each side.
2 3 Simplify.
The given equation is equivalent to the false statement 2 3.
Therefore the equation has no solution.

b. 5w 3(1 w) 2(3 w)
5w 3 3w 6 2w Distributive property
8w 3 6 2w Simplify.
8w 3 2w 6 2w 2 w Subtract 2w from each side.
6w 3 6 Simplify.
6w 3 3 6 3 Add 3 to each side.
6w 3 Simplify.
6w 3
Divide each side by 6.
6 6
1
w Simplify.
2

1
c. (8 y 6) 5 y ( y 3)
2
4 y 3 5y y 3 Distributive property
4y 3 4y 3 Simplify.

The given equation is equivalent to 4 y 3 4 y 3, which is true for

all values of y.
This equation is an identity.
 Exercise - Equation with No Solution and Identity

1 5
1 What is the value of n
If (9 6 x) 5 2 x , what is the value of x ?
3 7 3
if (2n 3) 4n (5 2n) ?
2 2
A) 3
B) 4
C) 5
D) The equation has no solution.

2 6

If 5( x 2) 3 x 2( x 5) , which of the following What is the value of k

must be true? 13 7(k 1)
if 3k 2 ?
3
A) x is 3 .
B) x is 4 .
C) x is 5 .
D) The equation is true for all values of x .

3 7

1 What is the value of x

(15 6 x) 5 ax if 2[3 ( x 4)] 5 x 2 x ?
3
If the linear equation above is an identity, what
is the value of a ?

A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5

4 8
4 x 13 7( x 2) bx What is the value of m
if 0.4(5m 9) 5m 4(0.3 m) ?
If the linear equation above has no solution,
which of the following could be the value of b ?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
A formula is an equation that states the relationship between two or more variables. Formulas and some
equations contain more than one variable. It is often useful to solve formulas for one of the variables.

Example 1 Solve each equation or formula for the specified variable.

1
a. 3x a kx b , for x b. A (a b)h , for h
2
5
c. C ( F 32) , for F
9

Solution a. 3x a kx b
3x a kx kx b kx Subtract kx from each side.
3x a kx b Simplify.
3x a kx a b a Add a to each side.
3x kx b a Simplify.
x(3 k ) b a Distributive property
x(3 k ) b a
Divide each side by 3 k .
3 k 3 k
b a
x Simplify.
3 k

1
b. A ( a b) h
2
1
2 A 2 (a b )h Multiply each side by 2 .
2
2 A ( a b)h Simplify.
2A ( a b)
h Divide each side by a b .
a b a b
2A
h Simplify.
a b

5
c. C ( F 32)
9
9 9 5 9
C ( F 32) Multiply each side by .
5 5 9 5
9
C F 32 Simplify.
5
9
C 32 F 32 32 Add 32 to each side.
5
9
F C 32 Simplify.
5
 Exercise - Solving for a Specific Variable

1 4
If 2 x 3 y 18 , which of the following gives y ab 1
If c , which of the following gives b
in terms of x ? 3
in terms of the other variables?
2
A) y 6 x
3 3c 1
A) b
a
2
B) y 6 x
3 3c 1
B) b
a
3
C) y 6 x
2 3c
C) b 1
a
3
D) y 6 x
2 3c
D) b 1
a

2 5
If P 2l 2 w , which of the following gives w If gh f g h , which of the following gives g
in terms of P and l ? in terms of the other variables?

A) w P 2l f h
A) g
B) w P l h 1

P f h
C) w l B) g
2 h 1

l f h
D) w P C) g
2 h 1
f h
D) g
3 h 1

a
If c , which of the following gives a 6
a b
in terms of b and c ? If n a ( k 1) d , which of the following
gives k in terms of the other variables?
bc
A) a
1 c n a 1
A) k
d
bc
B) a
1 c n a 1
B) k
d
bc
C) a
b c n a d
C) k
d
bc
D) a
b c n a d
D) k
d
1 4
5 4 1
If x , what is the value of x ? P F ( v 2 1)
6 5 2

The above equation gives pressure P, which

3
A) is exerted by a fluid that is forced to stop
2 moving. The pressure depends on the initial
2 force, F , and the speed of the fluid, v . Which
B) of the following expresses the square of the
3
velocity in terms of the pressure and the force?
24
C)
25 A) v 2 2( P F ) 1
25
D) B) v 2 2( P F 1)
24
P
C) v 2 2( ) 1
F
P F
D) v 2 2( )
2 F

When one half of the number n is decreased

by 4, the result is 6 . What is three times n
added to 7?

A) 7 5
B) 5 One half of the number n increased by 10 is the
C) same as four less than twice the number.
3
D) 1
Which of the following equations represents the
statement above?

1
A) (n 10) 2(n 4)
2
3
1
B) n 10 2( n 4)
If 4 7x is 5 less than 23, what is the value 2
of 3x ?
1
C) n 10 2n 4
2
A) 12
1
B) 9 D) (n 10) 2n 4
2
C) 6
D) 3
6 9
If a is b less than one-half of c , what is b a
in terms of a and c ? If 1 , what is the value of a b ?
b

1
A) c a
2
1
B) a c
2
C) 2a c
10
D) c 2a
When an object is thrown from the ground into
the air with an initial upward speed of v0 meters
per second, the speed v , in meters per second,
is given by the equation v v0 9.8t , where t
is the time in seconds. The speed of an object
7 becomes 0 when the object reaches its maximum
If x 1 y and 3 x 8 5 y , what is the value height. If an object is thrown upward with an initial
speed of 14 m/sec , how many seconds does it
of x ?
taken an to reach its maximum height?
(Round your answer to the nearest hundredth of
A) 2 a second.)
3
B)
2
1
C)
2
5
D)
2

11
When an object is dropped from a height of s
feet above the ground, the height h of the
8 object is given by the equation h 16t 2 s ,
where t is the time in seconds after the object
The quotient of a number and five equals nine
has dropped. If an object is dropped from a height
less than one half of the number. What is the
of 144 feet above the ground, how many seconds
number?
will it take to hit the ground?

A) 20
B) 10
C) 20
D) 30