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YOUR NOTES
IGCSE Maths CIE 

Linear Equations & Inequalities

CONTENTS
Solving Linear Equations
Solving Linear Inequalities

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Solving Linear Equations YOUR NOTES


Solving Linear Equations
What are linear equations?
A linear equation is an equation that will produce a straight line when plotted on a graph
The greatest power of x in a linear equation is 1
This means there are no terms of x 2 or a higher order
A linear equation is normally in form ax + b = c
where a, b , and c are constants and x is a variable

How do I solve a linear equation?

To solve a linear equation you need to isolate the variable, usually x , by carrying out inverse
operations to both sides of the equation
Inverse operations are just the opposite operations to what has already happened to
the variable
The order in which the inverse operations are carried out is important
Most of the time, this will be BIDMAS in reverse
However it depends on the order in which the operations were applied to the variable
to form the equation
How do I solve a linear equation of the form ax + b = c?
The operations that have been applied to x here are:
STEP 1
Multiply by a
STEP 2
Add b
To solve this, you must carry out the inverse operations in reverse order
STEP 1
Subtract b
STEP 2
Divide by a
For example, to solve the equation 2x + 1 = 9
STEP 1
Subtract 1
2x + 1 = 9
( − 1) ( − 1)

2x = 8
STEP 2
Divide by 2
2x = 8

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( ÷ 2) ( ÷ 2) YOUR NOTES
x=4 

Be extra careful if any of the terms have negatives

For example, to solve the equation 2 − 3x = 10
STEP 1
Subtract 2
2 − 3x = 10
( − 2) ( − 2)

−3x = 8

Be careful not to drop the negative sign

STEP 2
Divide by -3
−3x = 8

( ÷ − 3) ( ÷ − 3)
8
x =−
3

How do I solve a linear equation with the unknown variable, x, on both

sides?
If a linear equation contains the unknown variable, usually x on both sides start by
collecting these terms together on one side of the equation
Moving the x term with the smallest coefficient (number in front of x ) is easiest
For example, to solve the equation 4x − 7 = 11 + x
STEP 1
Move the x term with the smallest coefficient of x
The coefficients are 4 and 1 so move the x -term on the right hand side
4x − 7 = 11 + x
(−x ) (−x )

3x − 7 = 11
STEP 2
Solve the linear equation using the method above
3x − 7 = 11
3x = 18
x=6

How do I solve a linear equation that contains brackets?

If a linear equation contains brackets on one, or both, sides start by expanding the brackets

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For example, to solve the equation 2(x − 1) = 10 − (3 + x ) YOUR NOTES

STEP 1 
Expand the brackets on both sides
2x − 2 = 10 − 3 − x
STEP 2
Collect the x terms to one side by subtracting the term with the smaller coefficient of x
2x − 2 = 7 − x
− (−x ) − (−x )

3x − 2 = 7
Be extra careful if any of the terms have negatives
STEP 3
Solve the linear equation using the method above
3x − 2 = 7
3x = 9
x=3

How do I solve a linear equation that contains fractions?

If a linear equation contains a fraction on one or both sides, remove the fractions by
multiplying both sides by everything on the denominator
Remember to put brackets around the expression first
2 3
For example, to solve the equation = you will need to multiply both sides
x+3 4 − 2x
of the equation by both (x + 3) and (4 − 2x )
STEP 1
Multiply both sides by (x + 3)
2 3
(x + 3) = (x + 3)
x+3 4 − 2x
3(x + 3)
2=
4 − 2x
STEP 2
Multiply both sides by (4 − 2x )
3(x + 3)
2(4 − 2x ) = (4 − 2x )
4 − 2x
2(4 − 2x ) = 3(x + 3)
STEP 3
Expand the brackets on both sides
8 − 4x = 3x + 9

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STEP 4 YOUR NOTES

Collect the x terms to one side by subtracting the term with the smaller coefficient of x 
8 − 4x = 3x + 9
− (−4x ) − (−4x )
8 = 7x + 9
STEP 5
Solve the equation
You can swap the sides if it makes solving the equation easier
7x + 9 = 8
7x = − 1
1
x= −
7

 Exam Tip
If you have time in the exam, you should substitute your answer back into the
equation to check you got it right

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YOUR NOTES
 Worked Example

a)
Solve the equation.
3x − 2
= −1
4−x

Get rid of the fraction by multiplying both sides by the denominator (4 − x ) .

3x − 2 = − (4 − x )

Expand the brackets.

3x − 2 = − 4 + x

Bring the x terms to one side of the equation by subtracting x from both sides.

2x − 2 = − 4
Get the x term by itself by adding 2 to both sides.

2x = − 2

Solve by dividing both sides by 2.

x = −1
b)
Solve the equation.
x+1
2+ =4
3

Isolate the fraction by subtracting 2 from both sides.

x+1
=2
3
Get rid of the fraction by multiplying both sides by the denominator (3).

x+1=6

Get the x term by itself by subtracting 1 from both sides.

x = 5

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Solving Linear Inequalities YOUR NOTES


Solving Linear Inequalities
What is a linear inequality?
An inequality tells you that one expression is greater than (“>”) or less than (“<”) another
“⩾” means “greater than or equal to”
“⩽” means “less than or equal to”
A Linear Inequality just has an x (and/or a y) etc in it and no x2 terms or terms with higher
powers of x
For example, 3x + 4 ⩾ 7 would be read “3x + 4 is greater than or equal to 7”
How do I solve linear inequalities?
Solving linear inequalities is just like Solving Linear Equations
Follow the same rules, but keep the inequality sign throughout
If you change the inequality sign to an equals sign you are changing the meaning of the
problem
When you multiply or divide both sides by a negative number, you must flip the sign of the
inequality
e.g. 1 < 2 → [times both sides by (–1)] → –1 > –2 (sign flips)
Never multiply or divide by a variable (x) as this could be positive or negative
The safest way to rearrange is simply to add & subtract to move all the terms onto one side
You also need to know how to use Number Lines and deal with “Double” Inequalities
How do I represent linear inequalities on a number line?
Inequalities such as x < a and x > a can be represented on a normal number line using an
open circle and an arrow
For < , the arrow points to the left of a
For > , the arrow points to the right of a
Inequalities such as x ≤ a and x ≥ a can be represented on a normal number line using a
solid circle and an arrow
For ≤ , the arrow points to the left of a
For ≥ , the arrow points to the right of a
Inequalities such as a < x < b and a ≤ x ≤ b can be represented on a normal number
line using two circles at a and b and a line between them
For < or > use an open circle
For ≤ or ≥ , use a solid circle
Disjoint inequalities such as "x < a or x > b " can be represented with two circles at a and b ,
an arrowed line pointing left from a and an arrowed line pointing right from b , and a blank
space between a and b

How do I solve double inequalities?

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Inequalities such as a < 2x < b can be solved by doing the same thing to all three parts YOUR NOTES
of the inequality 
Use the same rules as solving linear inequalities

 Exam Tip
Do not change the inequality sign to an equals when solving linear inequalities,
you will lose marks in an exam for doing this.

 Worked Example
(a)
Solve the inequality −7 ≤ 3x − 1 < 2 , illustrating your answer on a number line.

This is a double inequality, so any operation carried out to one side must be done to
all three parts.
Use the expression in the middle to choose the inverse operations needed to
isolate x.
Add 1 to all three parts.
Remember not to change the inequality signs.
−6 ≤ 3x < 3
Divide all three parts by 3.
3 is positive so there is no need to flip the signs.
−2 ≤ x < 1
Illustrate the final answer on a number line, using an open circle at 1 and a closed
circle at -2.

(b)
Give your answer to part (a) in set notation

Rewrite your answer using the set notation rules discussed above
{ x : x ≥ − 2} ∩ { x : x < 1}

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