1.

Solving Linear Equations - General Equations

Objective: Solve general linear equations with variables on both sides.

Often as we are solving linear equations we will need to do some work to set them
up into a form we are familiar with solving. This section will focus on manipu-
lating an equation we are asked to solve in such a way that we can use our pat-
tern for solving two-step equations to ultimately arrive at the solution.

One such issue that needs to be addressed is parenthesis. Often the parenthesis
can get in the way of solving an otherwise easy problem. As you might expect we
can get rid of the unwanted parenthesis by using the distributive property. This is
shown in the following example. Notice the first step is distributing, then it is
solved like any other two-step equation.

Example 1.

4(2x − 6) = 16 Distribute 4 through parenthesis

8x − 24 = 16 Focus on the subtraction first
+ 24 + 24 Add 24 to both sides
8x = 40 Now focus on the multiply by 8
8 8 Divide both sides by 8
x=5 Our Solution!

Often after we distribute there will be some like terms on one side of the equa-
tion. Example 2 shows distributing to clear the parenthesis and then combining
like terms next. Notice we only combine like terms on the same side of the equa-
tion. Once we have done this, our next example solves just like any other two-step
equation.

Example 2.

3(2x − 4) + 9 = 15 Distribute the 3 through the parenthesis

6x − 12 + 9 = 15 Combine like terms, − 12 + 9
6x − 3 = 15 Focus on the subtraction first
+3 +3 Add 3 to both sides
6x = 18 Now focus on multiply by 6

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 6 6 Divide both sides by 6
x=3 Our Solution

A second type of problem that becomes a two-step equation after a bit of work is
one where we see the variable on both sides. This is shown in the following
example.

Example 3.

4x − 6 = 2x + 10

Notice here the x is on both the left and right sides of the equation. This can
make it difficult to decide which side to work with. We fix this by moving one of
the terms with x to the other side, much like we moved a constant term. It
doesn’t matter which term gets moved, 4x or 2x, however, it would be the
author’s suggestion to move the smaller term (to avoid negative coefficients). For
this reason we begin this problem by clearing the positive 2x by subtracting 2x
from both sides.

4x − 6 = 2x + 10 Notice the variable on both sides

− 2x − 2x Subtract 2x from both sides
2x − 6 = 10 Focus on the subtraction first
+6 +6 Add 6 to both sides
2x = 16 Focus on the multiplication by 2
2 2 Divide both sides by 2
x=8 Our Solution!

The previous example shows the check on this solution. Here the solution is
plugged into the x on both the left and right sides before simplifying.

Example 4.

4(8) − 6 = 2(8) + 10 Multiply 4(8) and 2(8) first

32 − 6 = 16 + 10 Add and Subtract
26 = 26 True!

The next example illustrates the same process with negative coefficients. Notice
first the smaller term with the variable is moved to the other side, this time by
adding because the coefficient is negative.

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Example 5.

− 3x + 9 = 6x − 27 Notice the variable on both sides, − 3x is smaller

+ 3x + 3x Add 3x to both sides
9 = 9x − 27 Focus on the subtraction by 27
+ 27 + 27 Add 27 to both sides
36 = 9x Focus on the mutiplication by 9
9 9 Divide both sides by 9
4=x Our Solution

Linear equations can become particularly intersting when the two processes are
combined. In the following problems we have parenthesis and the variable on both
sides. Notice in each of the following examples we distribute, then combine like
terms, then move the variable to one side of the equation.

Example 6.

2(x − 5) + 3x = x + 18 Distribute the 2 through parenthesis

2x − 10 + 3x = x + 18 Combine like terms 2x + 3x
5x − 10 = x + 18 Notice the variable is on both sides
−x −x Subtract x from both sides
4x − 10 = 18 Focus on the subtraction of 10
+ 10 + 10 Add 10 to both sides
4x = 28 Focus on multiplication by 4
4 4 Divide both sides by 4
x=7 Our Solution

Sometimes we may have to distribute more than once to clear several parenthesis.
Remember to combine like terms after you distribute!

Example 7.

3(4x − 5) − 4(2x + 1) = 5 Distribute 3 and − 4 through parenthesis

12x − 15 − 8x − 4 = 5 Combine like terms 12x − 8x and − 15 − 4
4x − 19 = 5 Focus on subtraction of 19
+ 19 + 19 Add 19 to both sides
4x = 24 Focus on multiplication by 4

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 4 4 Divide both sides by 4
x=6 Our Solution

This leads to a 5-step process to solve any linear equation. While all five steps
aren’t always needed, this can serve as a guide to solving equations.

1. Distribute through any parentheses.

2. Combine like terms on each side of the equation.

3. Get the variables on one side by adding or subtracting

4. Solve the remaining 2-step equation (add or subtract then multiply or

divide)

5. Check your answer by plugging it back in for x to find a true statement.

The order of these steps is very important.

World View Note: The Chinese developed a method for solving equations that
involved finding each digit one at a time about 2000 years ago!

We can see each of the above five steps worked through our next example.

Example 8.

4(2x − 6) + 9 = 3(x − 7) + 8x Distribute 4 and 3 through parenthesis

8x − 24 + 9 = 3x − 21 + 8x Combine like terms − 24 + 9 and 3x + 8x
8x − 15 = 11x − 21 Notice the variable is on both sides
− 8x − 8x Subtract 8x from both sides
− 15 = 3x − 21 Focus on subtraction of 21
+ 21 + 21 Add 21 to both sides
6 = 3x Focus on multiplication by 3
3 3 Divide both sides by 3
2=x Our Solution

Check:

4[2(2) − 6] + 9 = 3[(2) − 7] + 8(2) Plug 2 in for each x. Multiply inside parenthesis

4[4 − 6] + 9 = 3[ − 5] + 8(2) Finish parentesis on left, multiply on right
4[ − 2] + 9 = − 15 + 8(2) Finish multiplication on both sides

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 − 8 + 9 = − 15 + 16 Add
1=1 True!

When we check our solution of x = 2 we found a true statement, 1 = 1. Therefore,

we know our solution x = 2 is the correct solution for the problem.

There are two special cases that can come up as we are solving these linear equa-
tions. The first is illustrated in the next two examples. Notice we start by dis-
tributing and moving the variables all to the same side.

Example 9.

3(2x − 5) = 6x − 15 Distribute 3 through parenthesis

6x − 15 = 6x − 15 Notice the variable on both sides
− 6x − 6x Subtract 6x from both sides
− 15 = − 15 Variable is gone! True!

Here the variable subtracted out completely! We are left with a true statement,
− 15 = − 15. If the variables subtract out completely and we are left with a true
statement, this indicates that the equation is always true, no matter what x is.
Thus, for our solution we say all real numbers or R.

Example 10.

2(3x − 5) − 4x = 2x + 7 Distribute 2 through parenthesis

6x − 10 − 4x = 2x + 7 Combine like terms 6x − 4x
2x − 10 = 2x + 7 Notice the variable is on both sides
− 2x − 2x Subtract 2x from both sides
− 10  7 Variable is gone! False!

Again, the variable subtracted out completely! However, this time we are left with
a false statement, this indicates that the equation is never true, no matter what x
is. Thus, for our solution we say no solution or ∅.

Beginning and Intermediate Algebra by Tyler Wallace is licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution 3.0 Unported License. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

5
 1.3 Practice - General Linear Equations

Solve each equation.

1) 2 − ( − 3a − 8) = 1 45) − 7(x − 2) = − 4 − 6(x − 1)

3) − 5( − 4 + 2v) = − 50 47) − 6(8k + 4) = − 8(6k + 3) − 2

5) 66 = 6(6 + 5x) 49) − 2(1 − 7p) = 8(p − 7)

7) 0 = − 8(p − 5) 2) 2( − 3n + 8) = − 20

9) − 2 + 2(8x − 7) = − 16 4) 2 − 8( − 4 + 3x) = 34

11) − 21x + 12 = − 6 − 3x 6) 32 = 2 − 5( − 4n + 6)

13) − 1 − 7m = − 8m + 7 8) − 55 = 8 + 7(k − 5)

15) 1 − 12r = 29 − 8r 10) − (3 − 5n) = 12

17) 20 − 7b = − 12b + 30 12) − 3n − 27 = − 27 − 3n

19) − 32 − 24v = 34 − 2v 14) 56p − 48 = 6p + 2

21) − 2 − 5(2 − 4m) = 33 + 5m 16) 4 + 3x = − 12x + 4

23) − 4n + 11 = 2(1 − 8n) + 3n 18) − 16n + 12 = 39 − 7n

25) − 6v − 29 = − 4v − 5(v + 1) 20) 17 − 2x = 35 − 8x

27) 2(4x − 4) = − 20 − 4x 22) − 25 − 7x = 6(2x − 1)

29) − a − 5(8a − 1) = 39 − 7a 24) − 7(1 + b) = − 5 − 5b

31) − 57 = − ( − p + 1) + 2(6 + 8p) 26) − 8(8r − 2) = 3r + 16

33) − 2(m − 2) + 7(m − 8) = − 67 28) − 8n − 19 = − 2(8n − 3) + 3n

35) 50 = 8 (7 + 7r) − (4r + 6) 30) − 4 + 4k = 4(8k − 8)

37) − 8(n − 7) + 3(3n − 3) = 41 32) 16 = − 5(1 − 6x) + 3(6x + 7)

39) − 61 = − 5(5r − 4) + 4(3r − 4) 34) 7 = 4(n − 7) + 5(7n + 7)

41) − 2(8n − 4) = 8(1 − n) 36) − 8(6 + 6x) + 4( − 3 + 6x) = − 12

43) − 3( − 7v + 3) + 8v = 5v − 4(1 − 6v) 38) − 76 = 5(1 + 3b) + 3(3b − 3)

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40) − 6(x − 8) − 4(x − 2) = − 4 46) − (n + 8) + n = − 8n + 2(4n − 4)

42) − 4(1 + a) = 2a − 8(5 + 3a) 48) − 5(x + 7) = 4( − 8x − 2)

44) − 6(x − 3) + 5 = − 2 − 5(x − 5) 50) 8( − 8n + 4) = 4( − 7n + 8)

Beginning and Intermediate Algebra by Tyler Wallace is licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution 3.0 Unported License. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

7
1.3

Answers to General Linear Equations

1) − 3 18) − 3 35) 0
2) 6 19) − 3 36) − 2
3) 7 20) 3 37) − 6
4) 0 21) 3 38) − 3
5) 1 22) − 1 39) 5
6) 3 23) − 1
40) 6
7) 5 24) − 1
41) 0
8) − 4 25) 8
42) − 2
9) 0 26) 0
43) No Solution
10) 3 27) − 1
44) 0
11) 1 28) 5
45) 12
12) All real numbers 29) − 1
13) 8 30) 1 46) All real numbers

14) 1 31) − 4 47) No Solution

15) − 7 32) 0 48) 1

16) 0 33) − 3 49) − 9

17) 2 34) 0 50) 0

Beginning and Intermediate Algebra by Tyler Wallace is licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution 3.0 Unported License. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)