Algebra 2, Part 1

Unit 1 – Equations and Inequalities

Use this study guide to help you prepare for the quizzes, unit test, and assignment. The study guide contains guided
notes and practice activities to help focus your learning throughout the unit. The Study Guide is NOT graded; all
exercises are for you to practice and apply what you have learned in each lesson. For specific questions about any of
the content, please use the Ask the Teacher page in the course.

Unit Objectives
In this unit, you will learn to write equations from basic mathematical statements and how to solve one step and
multi-step equations. You will understand and analyze the differences between equations and inequalities, and how
to gain a mastery in solving inequalities as well as graphing them on a number line. You will learn to solve absolute
value equations and inequalities, understanding that there will be more than one solution in both cases; then solve
absolute value equations, and solve and graph absolute value inequalities.

Lesson 1.1Writing Equations

Lesson Objective: Learn how to translate sentences and phrases into mathematical expressions and equations.

Example Problems:
Translate the phrase into a mathematical expression or equation.

1. 5 less than twice the number.

a. Less means subtract 5 from whatever comes next. Twice the number means multiply. The number
is unknown so use a variable. We often use x. Hence…. 2x -5

2. 2 times a number plus 3 equals 5.

a. Times means multiply. Plus means add. Equals is the equal sign. Hence….. 2x +3 = 5

Practice Problems: Now it is your turn. Follow the steps shown in the example problems.

Translate the phrase into a mathematical expression or equation.

1. A number increased 2. Twice a number 3. A number is separated 4. Three plus a number

by 5 equals 11. minus 3 equals 9. into 3 equal parts. equals 5.
Lesson 1.2 Solving One-Step Equations

Lesson Objective: Learning to solve one step equations.

Important Definitions: Pay attention to these specific terms and write down their definitions and an example of
each one as you are watching the videos and looking at the readings.

Inverse Operations:

Example Problems: Solve the following one step equations.

The inverse of adding is The inverse of The inverse of The inverse of dividing is
subtracting. subtracting is adding. multiplying is dividing. multiplying.
x+5=10 x-5=10 5x=10 𝑥
= 10
5
-5 -5 +5 +5 /5 /5 𝑥
5( ) = 5(10)
x=5 x=15 x=2 5
x=50
Check your work… Check your work… Check your work…
Check your work…
5+5 =10 15-5=10 5(2)=10
50
= 10
5

Practice Problems: Now it is your turn. Follow the steps shown in the example problems.
Solve the following one step equations.
𝑥
x+7=21 x -7 =5 2x=16 =5
3

Check you work Check you work Check you work Check you work

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Lesson 1.3 Solving Multi-Step Equations

Lesson Objective: Learn to solve multi-step equations.

To solve a multi-step equation:

1) If possible, simplify both sides of the equation by combining like terms and/or eliminating any grouping
symbols by using the distributive property of multiplication.
2) If needed, get all variables on one side of the equation by using an inverse property of addition or
subtraction.
3) Eliminate operations by using the inverse operation.

Example Problems:
Solve the following multi-step equations.

2x+5=15 2(3x+1)=20 5x+1= 3x+15

-5 -5 6x+2=20 -3x -3x

2x = 10 -2 -2 2x +1 = 15

/2 /2 6x=18 -1 -1

x=5 /6 /6 2x =14

x=3 /2 /2

x=7

Check Solution Check Solution Check Solution

2(5)+5=15 2(3(3)+1)=20 5(7)+1= 3(7)+15

10+5=15 2(9+1)=20 35+1=21+15

15=15 2(10)=20 36=36

20=20

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Practice Problems: Now it is your turn. Follow the steps shown in the example problems.
Solve the following multi-step equations.

3x+7=28 3(2x+3)= 21 2x+10=7x-5 25=10x-5

Check solution: Check solution: Check solution: Check solution:

Lesson 1.4 Solving Inequalities

Lesson Objective: Learn to solve inequalities.

Important Definitions: Pay attention to these specific terms and write down their definitions and an example
of each one as you are watching the videos and looking at the readings.

Inequality:

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Example Problems:
When solving an inequality, if you multiply or divide by a negative number, you must flip the inequality sign.
Solve the following inequalities.

2x > 10 -2x > 10 3x-5 ≤ 25 (-2x-5) +2 ≤ 27

/2 /2 /(-2) /(-2) +5 +5 -2 -2
x>5 x < -5 3x ≤ 30 (-2x-5) ≤ 25
/3 /3
Check the solution by *Since we divided or x ≤ 10 -2x-5 ≤ 25
picking a number greater multiplied by a negative, +5 +5
than 5…. we had to flip the Check the solution by -2x ≤ 30
x=6 is greater than 5 inequality sign. picking a number less /(-2) /(-2)
than or equal to 10.
2(6) > 10 Check the solution by x= 10 is less than or equal x ≥ -15
12 > 10 picking a number less to 10 *Since we divided or
than -5…. multiplied by a
Since the inequality is x= -6 is less than -5 3(10)-5 ≤ 25 negative, we had to flip
true, the solution is 30-5 ≤ 25 the inequality sign.
correct. -2(-6) > 10 25 ≤ 25
12 > 10 Check the solution by
Since the inequality is picking a number
Since the inequality is true, the solution is greater than or equal
true, the solution is correct. to -15.
correct. x= -15 is greater than or
equal to -15

(-2[-15]-5) +2 ≤ 27
(30-5) +2 ≤ 27
25 + 2 ≤ 27
27 ≤ 27

Since the inequality is

true, the solution is
correct.

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Practice Problems: Now it is your turn. Follow the steps shown in the example problems.
Solve the following inequalities.

𝑥
-3x<15 ≤4 -2x+5>35 2(x-3) -1 ≤ 31
5

Check Solution: Check Solution: Check Solution: Check Solution:

Lesson 1.5 Graphing on Number Lines

Lesson Objective: Learning to graph inequalities on a number line.

Important Definitions: Pay attention to these specific terms and write down their definitions and an example
of each one as you are watching the videos and looking at the readings.

Number line:

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Example Problems:

Practice Problems: Now it is your turn. Follow the steps shown in the example problems.
Graph the following inequalities on a number line.

x=5 X<6 x<4 x >-1

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Lesson 1.6 Solving Absolute Value Equations
Lesson Objective: Learn how to solve absolute value equations.

Important Definitions: Pay attention to these specific terms and write down their definitions and an example of each
one as you are watching the videos and looking at the readings.

Absolute Value Equation:

Example Problems:

Solve: |𝒙 − 𝟑| = −𝟐 Solve: |𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑| = 𝟗 Solve: |𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙| = 𝟏𝟎

x-3= -2 or x-3 = +2 2x-3 = +9 or 2x-3 = -9 2-3x = +10 or 2-3x = -10

x = 1 or x= 5 2x = 12 or 2x = -6 -3x = 8 or -3x = -12
X=6 or x = -3 x= -8/3 or x= 4

Practice Problems: Now it is your turn. Follow the steps shown in the example problems to solve.

|𝑥 + 5 | = 7 |−3𝑥 + 2 | = 11 |2 − 𝑥 | = 5 |−4𝑥 + 1 | = 9

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Lesson 1.7 Solving Absolute Value Inequalities
Lesson Objective: Learn how to solve absolute value inequalities.

Important Definitions: Pay attention to these specific terms and write down their definitions and an example
of each one as you are watching the videos and looking at the readings.

Absolute Value Inequality:

Important Formulas:

In absolute value Inequalites….

Less than becomes two problems separated by “and”
Less than or equal to becomes two problems separated by “and”
Greater than becomes two problems separated by “or”
Greater than or equal to becomes two problems separated by “or”

Example Problems:

|𝑥| < 2 |𝑥 + 3| > 2 5|2𝑥 + 3| < 5 |−2𝑥 + 3| ≥ 5

Write two inequalities. Write two inequalities. |2𝑥 + 3| < 1 -2x+3≥5 or -2x+3 ≤-5

x< 2 and x > -2 x+3>2 or x+3<-2 Isolate the absolute value -2x≥2 or -2x ≤ -8
and write two equations.
x>-2 or x<-5 Flip the inequality sign
2x+3 < 1 and 2x + 3 > -1 when you divide by a
negative.
2x<-2 and 2x >-4
x≤-1 or x≥4
x< -1 and x > -2

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Practice Problems: Now it is your turn. Follow the steps shown in the example problems.

|𝑥| < −5 |𝑥 − 4| > 6 3|2𝑥 − 1| > 9 |−𝑥 + 3| ≤ 5

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