Foundation Mathematics

Topic 2 – Lecture 1: Using Algebraic Equations

Transposing Equations
Solving Simple Linear Equations

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.2

Scope and Coverage

This topic will cover:
• An introduction to the structure and transposition of
equations
• Solving Simple, Linear, Equations

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.3

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this topic students will be able to:
• Be able to recognise and transpose a range of algebraic
expressions
• Solve a range of simple, linear equations through a range
of techniques

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.4

Transposing Equations - 1
• We often present information in the form of an equation.
• An equation is simply an expression of an equality.
• E.g. 1000ml = 1 litre
• When dealing with equations we are often confronted
with a statement in which there is an unknown quantity.

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.5

Transposing Equations - 2
For example:
• 3 x + 4 = 22 here we have an unknown quantity xto
calculate x we need to transpose the equation. Doing
this creates the following 3 = 22 – 4 x
• 3 x is therefore = 18 and x= 6

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.6

Transposing Equations - 3
• Actions are equal to expression either side of the equal
sign so
• 3 x + 4 = 22 to this equation we have subtracted 4 from
both sides of the equation; if we wrote this out in full it
would look like
• 3 x +4 - 4 = 22-4

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.7

Transposing Equations - 4
• The effect of this calculation is to give an equation of 3
= 18 x
• To get the value of x we need to divide both sides of the
equal sign by 3 therefore 3 x/3 = 18/3
• x is therefore = 6

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.8

Transposing Equations - 5
• The equation 3 x- 4= 23 contains only the first power of x
;
• The equation 5x2 – 3 x+5=0 contains x2 as the highest
power of x , that is the second power of x.

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.9

Transposing Equations - 6
• Simple equations are therefore those that relate to those
equations that contain only the first power of the
unknown quantity thus

5x 2 x  5
7t  5  4t  7 and 
3 2

are both considered to be simple equations as they both

contain unknown quantities of the first power.

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.10

Simple Equations - 1
• Consider the simple equation

x
3  0
6

• We need to isolate the unknown on one side of the

equals sign and the known value on the other side.

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.11

Solving Equations - 2
x x
• The equation  3 can then be presented as 3
6 6
• In this way it can be seen that we now have the
opportunity to solve the equation, that is we can find the
value of x
• To do so we multiply both sides of the equation by 6 to
x
give  6  3  6 therefore x = 18
6

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.12

Solving Equations - 3
Equations requiring addition and subtraction
•Solve x
-4=8
x = 8+4  =12
- If we add 4 to each side, we get -4+4 x
- Adding 4 to each side is the same as transferring -4 to the right
hand side of the equals sign, in so doing the sign is changed from
a minus to a plus. Thus -4=8, x
x = 8+4  x=12
•Solve x
+5=20
- If we subtract 5 from each side, we get +5-5=20-5
x 
x =15

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.13

Solving Equations - 4
Equations containing the unknown quantity on both sides
•Group known and unknown quantities together on either
side of the equals sign.

•Solve 7 x x
+3=5 +17
- To find a value for x we need to rearrange (transpose) the
equations

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.14

Solving Equations - 5
- Transfer 5 x to the left hand side of the equals sign and +3 to
the right
- note: there is the need to change signs.

- This gives
- 7x -5 x =17-3, which when simplified is 2x =14
- by dividing both sides by 2 we get x =14/2 therefore x =7

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.15

Solving Equations - 6
Equations containing brackets
• When an equation contains brackets remove these first
and then solve as before.
• Example:
- Solve 2(3x+7) = 16
- Removing the bracket, 6x+14 =16, 6x+14-14 = 16-14, 6x=2,
x=2/6,  x=1/3

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.16

Solving Equations - 7
Equations containing fractions
• An equation containing fractions:
• Solve:
x  4 2x  1
 4
3 2

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.17

Solving Equations - 8
• The lowest common multiple of 3 and 2 is 6 therefore
we must multiply the numerators by 6
• This gives:
x4 2x  1
6 6  46
3 2

2(x-4) - 3(2x-1) = 24 simplifying gives 2x-8-6x+3 = 24, further

simplification gives -4x-5 = 24

-4x = 24+5, therefore -4x = 29, and so x = 29/-4,

ultimately x = -(29/4)

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.18

Solving Equations - 9
5 4

• Consider the following equation 2x  5 x  2

• To solve this equation we need to find the lowest

common multiple for the denominators which in this
case is (2x+5)(x+2). Once we have the lowest common
multiple we need to multiply the equation throughout.
This gives:
5 4
 (2 x  5)( x  2)   (2 x  5)( x  2)
2x  5 x2

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.19

Solving Equations - 10
• By cancelling out on both sides of the equation we
simplify
• This therefore gives 5(x+2) = 4(2x +5) which is the
same as 5x +10 = 8x +20
• Simplifying gives 5x – 8x = 10 therefore – 3x = 10
therefore x = - 10/3

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.20

Expressions – real information

• If we can buy x number of light bulbs for $400 what is
the cost of y light bulbs?
- To simplify this information we need to express it as an
equations therefore 1 light bulb costs
400
x
400 400 y
- y light bulbs therefore costs X y or $
x x

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.21

Solving Equations - 1
- Perimeter – 56cm
- Long sides – 4cm longer than short sides

- Find the dimensions of the rectangle

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.22

Solving Equations - 2
• Let x cm= length of the shorter side, then (x+4)cm =
length of the longer side
• Thus the total perimeter can be expressed as x+x+
(x+4)+(x+4) = (4x+8)cm
• Given that the total perimeter = 56 cm we need to
simplify our expression
• Hence 4x+8=56 which is the same as 4x=56-8, therefore
4x=48, x=12

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 Using Algebraic Equations 1 Topic 2 - 1.23

Topic 2 – Using Algebraic Equations 1

Any Questions?

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