M Prakash Institute STD VII

Pre Foundation Lecture 33

Linear equations - 1

Numbers and Symbols

In lower classes, we have studied numbers like 1, 2, 3, 1.2, −2.3 as well as letters like a, b, c
or x, y, z that can be used instead of numbers. These letters can be used for some known
or unknown numbers. Accordingly, they are called knowns or unknowns. We will also
come across situations in which the letters represent some particular numbers or a whole
set of numbers. Accordingly, we call them constants or variables.

Numerical Expressions
√
Expressions of the form 3 × 5, 2 + 6, 5 + (−4), 32 + 41/2 , 2 + 5 ÷ 3, etc. are called
numerical expressions. Numerical expressions are made up of numbers, basic
arithmetical operations (+, −, ×, ÷), involution (raising to a power), and evolution
(root extraction).

Algebraic Expression
√ √
Expressions of the form 2x, (3x + 5), (4x − 2y), 2x2 + 3 γ, 3x3 /2 γ, etc. are algebraic
expressions. 3x and 5 are the terms of (3x + 5); 4x and 2y are the terms of 4x − 2y.
Algebraic expressions are made up of numbers, symbols, and basic arithmetical
operations.

Mathematical Sentence
Two expressions joined by the equality sign ⇔ or an inequality sign (<, >, ≤, ≥) are
mathematical sentences.
Example: 2 + 3 = 4 + 1, 5 × 3 > 2 × 4, 5 × 6 = 10 × 3, 15 − 8 < 3 × 3, 3x + 5 ≤ 10, and
5x − 4 ≥ 15 are some mathematical sentences. Those which have the equality sign are
equations or those which have an inequality sign are inequations.

Equation
An open sentence containing the equality sign is an equation. In other words, an equation
is a sentence in which there is an equality sign between two algebraic expressions.
Example: 2x + 5 = x + 3, 3y − 4 = 20, and 5x + 6 = x + 1 are equations. Here, x and y
are unknown quantities and 5,3 , 20 , etc., are known quantities.

Linear Equation
An equation, in which the highest index of the unknowns present is one, is a
linear equation. x + 5 = 10, 2x − 3 = 23, x + y = 10, and 3x − 4y = 15
are some linear equations.

Solution - A number, which when substituted for the variable in an equation, makes
L.H.S. = R.H.S, is said to satisfy the equation and is called a solution or a root of the
equation.
Laws of equation

1. If the same number or quantity is added to both the sides of an equation, the two sides
remain equal; i.e.,if x = y then x + k = y + k.
Example If p − 5 = 7 then p − 5 + 5 = 7 + 5 or p = 12.

2. If equal quantities are subtracted from both the sides of an equation then the differences
are equal; i.e.. if x = y then x − k = y − k.
Example If x + 4 = 6 then x + 4 − 4 = 6 − 4 or x = 2.

3. If both the sides of an equation are multiplied by the same quantity, they remain equal;
i.e., if x = y then xz = yz.
x x
Example If = 6 then × 5 = 6 × 5 or x = 30.
5 5

4. If both the sides of an equation are divided by the same nonzero quantity, they remain
x y
equal; i.e., if x = y then = , where k 6= 0.
k k
5x 60
Example If 5x = 60 then = or x = 12.
5 5

Inequalities
The statement “8 is greater than 5” is expressed symbolically as 8 > 5. And “3 is smaller
than 5” is expressed symbolically as 3 < 5. Such statements are called inequalities, and
the symbols > and < are symbols of inequality.
Examples (i) 10 > 6 is read as “10 is greater than 6”.
(ii) 6 < 10 is read as “6 is less than 10”.
(iii) a ≥ b is read as “a is greater than or equal to b”.
(iv) b ≤ a is read as “b is less than or equal to a”.
• An inequality involving at least one variable, which can be substituted by some values
for the statement to be true, is called an inequation.
• A linear inequation in x contains terms in the first degree of x only.
Examples
(i) x > 3, (ii) 2x + 1 < 5, (iii) 5x − 2 ≥ x + 3 (iv) 3(x + 1) ≤ x + 7
are all linear inequations in x.

Replacement set
The set from which the values of the variable have to be selected to make an inequation
true is called the replacement set, or domain of the variable, for the inequation.

Solution set
Consider the inequation x > 3, where x ∈ N . Here the replacement set for the inequation
is the set of natural numbers.
The statement in the inequation is true if x = 4, 5, 6, . . . and false when x = 3, 2, 1.
Graphical representation of the solution
Examples
(i) Consider the inequation x + 2 ≤ 6, where x ∈ W .
Subtracting 2 from both the sides, x + 2 − 2 ≤ 6 − 2 or x ≤ 4.
But, the replacement set is W . So, x must be a whole number ≤ 4.
∴ the solution set is {0, 1, 2, 3, 4}.
To represent the solution set graphically, we draw a number line and mark points (thick
dots) on it to represent the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 , as shown below.

(ii) The solution set for the inequation x > 2, where x ∈ W , is {3, 4, 5, 6, . . .}.
This can be represented as follows.

or

The arrow or three dots above the number line indicate that all the subsequent integers
also belong to the solution set.

Laws of inequality
Remember the following laws of inequality.
LAW 1
If the same quantity is added to or subtracted from both the sides of an inequality, the
inequality does not change.
Examples
(i) If x − 2 > 6 then x − 2 + 2 > 6 + 2 or x > 8.
(ii) If p + 3 < 8 then p + 3 − 3 < 8 − 3 or p < 5.

Note: This law of inequality is similar to the corresponding law of equality. Therefore, the
rule of transposition holds for inequalities as well. Thus, if a − b > c + d then a − b − d > c
and a > c + d + b. In other words, a term from one side of an inequation can be shifted
to the other side by simply changing its sign.

LAW 2
If both the sides of an inequality are multiplied or divided by the same positive quantity,
the symbol (sign) of inequality does not change.
Examples
x x
(i) If > 2 then × 5 > 2 × 5 or x > 10.
5 5
5m 25
(ii) If 5m < 25 then < or m < 5.
5 5
LAW 3
If both the sides of an inequality are multiplied or divided by the same negative quantity,
the symbol (sign) of inequality is reversed, that is, > becomes <, and < becomes >.
Examples
x  x
(i) If − < 10 then − × (−2) > 10 × (−2) or x > −20.
2 2
 
1
× (−6x) < − 61 × (−24) or x < 4.


(ii) If −6x > −24 then −
6

Classwork:

1. Solve the following equations.

3y 8x
(a) 4x − 11 = 49 (b) − 1 = 14 (c) + 26 = 50
4 5

2. Solve each of the following equations. Also, verify the result in each case.
x x
(a) 6x + 5 = 2x + 17 (b) 2(5x − 3) − 3(2x − 1) = 9 (c) = +1
2 3
x 3 2x 3
(d) + = −1 (e) (x − 1) = x − 3 (f) 3(x − 3) = 5(2x + 1)
2 2 5 4

3. Solve the following equations and verify your answer:

2x − 3 2 2−y 3 5x − 7
(a) =− (b) = (c) =2
3x + 2 3 y+7 5 3x
3x + 5 2y + 5 2x + 1 5
(d) =4 (e) =1 (f) =
2x + 7 y+4 3x − 2 9

4. Solve for x :
x 2x + 1 2x + 3 x − 1 3 2x − 3 x + 4
(a) + =0 (b) + = (c) + = −2
3 6 5 2 4 5 2
x − 2 2x + 1 4x − 3 x + 2 1 x − 4 2x − 3 5
(d) + =2 (e) + =− (f) + =
3 12 5 3 4 3 8 6

5. Solve the following inequations and represent the solution set on a number line
(a) x < 4, x is a natural number
(b) x ≤ 3, x is a whole number
(c) 3 < x < 8, x is an integer
(d) x − 5 < 1, x is a natural number
(e) 3x − 3 ≥ 12, x is a natural number

6. Consider Replacement set is a set of integers.

Solve for x and show the solution on a number line:
(a) 5x − 3 > 3x + 1 (b) 2x + 1 > 4x + 7 (c) 8x + 6 < 3x + 1
(d) 2x + 7 > 7x + 3 (e) 6x + 2 6 3x − 7 (f) x − 11 6 6x − 1
7. Make a the subject in these equations.
1
(a) a(b + 1) = c (b) ab + a = b (c) +b=c
a
a−b 1 1 1 1 1
(d) =1 (e) + =0 (f) + =
b−a a b a b c

Homework:

1. Solve the following equations and check your solution by substitution.

x−4 x+2 x+4
(a) =3 (b) =5 (c) = −6
2 3 3
2x + 7 2x + 1 3x − 2
(d) =5 (e) = −3 (f) =4
3 3 4
x 3x 2x
(g) − 5 = 3 (h) +2=8 (i) − 2 = −8
2 2 3

2. Solve the following equations that involve algebraic fractions.

2x + 12 3x + 5 5x − 4 x−5 3x − 5 2x − 8
(a) = (b) = (c) =
7 4 4 5 4 3
1−x 2−x 6 − 2x 5x − 1 10 − x x+1
(d) = (e) = (f) =
5 3 3 4 2 3
2(x + 1) 3(2x − 1) −2(x − 1) 2−x 3(6 − x) −2(x + 1)
(g) = (h) = (i) =
3 2 3 4 2 5

3. Solve the following equations by multiplying both sides by the LCD.

x 2x x 3x 3x 2x
(a) + =7 (b) + =5 (c) − =1
2 3 4 3 5 3
2x x x−1 x+2 x+3 x−4
(d) − =3 (e) + =2 (f) + =4
5 4 2 5 3 2

4. Solve the following and represent solution set on a number line

(a) x + 7 ≤ 12, x is a natural number
(b) −3 < x ≤ 1, x is an integer
(c) 3x − 6 ≤ 9, x is an integer

5. Solve the inequation 6x − 7 < 2x + 5, where x ∈ W , and represent the solution

graphically.
Answer Key:

Classwork:
Q. no. Answer

1 (a) 15 (b) 20 (c) 15

2 (a) 3 (b) 3 (c) 6 (d) -25 (e) 9 (f) −2

5 −11
3 (a) (b) (c) −7
12 8
−23 −19
(d) (e) −1 (f)
5 3

4 (a) −1/4 (b) 13/18 (c) −34/9 (d) 31/6 (e) -19/68 (f) 61/14

5 (a) {1, 2, 3} (b) {0, 1, 2, 3} (c) {4, 5, 6, 7}

(d) {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} (e) {5, 6, 7, 8.....}

6 (a) {3, 4, 5.....} (b) {......, −5, −4, −3} (c) {......., −4, −3, −2}
(d) {....... − 2, −1, 0} (e) {....... − 4, −3} (f) {−2, −1, 0, 1, 2.....}

7 (a) c/(b + 1) (b) b/(b + 1) (c) 1/(c − b) (d) a = b

(e) −b (f) bc/(b − c)
Homework:
Q. no. Answer

1 (a) 10 (b) 13 (c) −22 (d) 4 (e) −5 (f) 6

(g) 16 (h) 4 (i) -9

2 (a) 1 (b) 0 (c) −17 (d) 7/2

(e) 27/23 (f) 28/5 (g) 13/14 (h) 2/5 (i) 94/11

3 (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) −15 (d) 20 (e) 3 (f) 6

4 (a) {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} (b) {−2, −1, 0, 1} (c) {........ − 2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

5 {0, 1, 2}