We've updated our
Privacy Policy effective December 15. Please read our updated Privacy Policy and tap

Study Guides > College Algebra: Co-requisite Course

Solving Linear Equations

Learning Objectives

  • Use properties of equality to isolate variables and solve algebraic equations
  • Use the properties of equality and the distributive property to solve equations containing parentheses
  • Clear fractions and decimals from equations to make them easier to solve
  • Solve equations that have one solution, no solution, or an infinite number of solutions
steps leading to a gold ball Steps With an End In Sight

Use properties of equality to isolate variables and solve algebraic equations

There are some equations that you can solve in your head quickly, but other equations are more complicated. Multi-step equations, ones that takes several steps to solve, can still be simplified and solved by applying basic algebraic rules such as the multiplication and addition properties of equality. In this section we will explore methods for solving multi-step equations that contain grouping symbols and several mathematical operations. We will also learn techniques for solving multi-step equations that contain absolute values. Finally, we will learn that some equations have no solutions, while others have an infinite number of solutions. First, let's define some important terminology:
  • variables:  variables are symbols that stand for an unknown quantity, they are often represented with letters, like x, y, or z.
  • coefficient: Sometimes a variable is multiplied by a number. This number is called the coefficient of the variable. For example, the coefficient of 3x is 3.
  • term: a single number, or variables and numbers connected by multiplication. -4, 6x and x2x^2 are all terms
  • expression: groups of terms connected by addition and subtraction.  2x252x^2-5 is an expression
  • equation:  an equation is a mathematical statement that two expressions are equal. An equation will always contain an equal sign with an expression on each side. Think of an equal sign as meaning "the same as." Some examples of equations are y=mx+by = mx +b,  34r=v3r\frac{3}{4}r = v^{3} - r, and  2(6d)+f(3+k)=14d2(6-d) + f(3 +k) = \frac{1}{4}d
The following figure shows how coefficients, variables, terms, and expressions all come together to make equations. In the equation 2x32=10x2x-3^2=10x, the variable is xx, a coefficient is 1010, a term is 10x10x, an expression is 2x322x-3^2.
Equation made of coefficients, variables, terms and expressions. There are some equations that you can solve in your head quickly. For example—what is the value of y in the equation 2y=62y=6? Chances are you didn’t need to get out a pencil and paper to calculate that y=3y=3. You only needed to do one thing to get the answer: divide 6 by 2. Other equations are more complicated. Solving 4(13t+12)=6\displaystyle 4\left( \frac{1}{3}t+\frac{1}{2}\right)=6 without writing anything down is difficult! That’s because this equation contains not just a variable but also fractions and terms inside parentheses. This is a multi-step equation, one that takes several steps to solve. Although multi-step equations take more time and more operations, they can still be simplified and solved by applying basic algebraic rules. Remember that you can think of an equation as a balance scale, with the goal being to rewrite the equation so that it is easier to solve but still balanced. The addition property of equality and the multiplication property of equality explain how you can keep the scale, or the equation, balanced. Whenever you perform an operation to one side of the equation, if you perform the same exact operation to the other side, you’ll keep both sides of the equation equal. If the equation is in the form ax+b=cax+b=c, where x is the variable, you can solve the equation as before. First “undo” the addition and subtraction, and then “undo” the multiplication and division.

Example

Solve 3y+2=113y+2=11.

Answer: Subtract 2 from both sides of the equation to get the term with the variable by itself.

3y+2   =  11       2        23y    =     9 \displaystyle \begin{array}{r}3y+2\,\,\,=\,\,11\\\underline{\,\,\,\,\,\,\,-2\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,-2}\\3y\,\,\,\,=\,\,\,\,\,9\end{array}

Divide both sides of the equation by 3 to get a coefficient of 1 for the variable.

      3y    =     93                  9          y    =    3\begin{array}{r}\,\,\,\,\,\,\underline{3y}\,\,\,\,=\,\,\,\,\,\underline{9}\\3\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,9\\\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,y\,\,\,\,=\,\,\,\,3\end{array}

Answer

y=3y=3

Example

Solve 3x+5x+4x+7=883x+5x+4-x+7=88.

Answer: There are three like terms 3x3x, 5x5x, and x–x involving a variable. Combine these like terms. 4 and 7 are also like terms and can be added.

  3x+5x+4x+7=   88                   7x+4+7=   88\begin{array}{r}\,\,3x+5x+4-x+7=\,\,\,88\\\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,7x+4+7=\,\,\,88\end{array}

The equation is now in the form ax+b=cax+b=c, so we can solve as before.

7x+11   =   887x+11\,\,\,=\,\,\,88

Subtract 11 from both sides.

7x+11   =   88                                11       11                                 7x   =   77\begin{array}{r}7x+11\,\,\,=\,\,\,88\\\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\underline{-11\,\,\,\,\,\,\,-11}\\\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,7x\,\,\,=\,\,\,77\end{array}

Divide both sides by 7.

                                 7x   =   777                 7                                     x   =   11\begin{array}{r}\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\underline{7x}\,\,\,=\,\,\,\underline{77}\\7\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,7\,\\\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,x\,\,\,=\,\,\,11\end{array}

Answer

x=11x=11

Some equations may have the variable on both sides of the equal sign, as in this equation: 4x6=2x+104x-6=2x+10. To solve this equation, we need to “move” one of the variable terms. This can make it difficult to decide which side to work with. It doesn’t matter which term gets moved, 4x4x or 2x2x, however, to avoid negative coefficients, you can move the smaller term.

Examples

Solve: 4x6=2x+104x-6=2x+10

Answer: Choose the variable term to move—to avoid negative terms choose 2x2x

   4x6=2x+102x          2x   2x6=10\,\,\,4x-6=2x+10\\\underline{-2x\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,-2x}\\\,\,\,2x-6=10

Now add 6 to both sides to isolate the term with the variable.

2x6=10    +6   +62x=16\begin{array}{r}2x-6=10\\\underline{\,\,\,\,+6\,\,\,+6}\\2x=16\end{array}

Now divide each side by 2 to isolate the variable x.

2x2=162x=8\begin{array}{c}\frac{2x}{2}=\frac{16}{2}\\\\x=8\end{array}

In this video, we show an example of solving equations that have variables on both sides of hte equal sign. https://youtu.be/f3ujWNPL0Bw

The Distributive Property

As we solve linear equations, we often need to do some work to write the linear equations in a form we are familiar with solving. This section will focus on manipulating an equation we are asked to solve in such a way that we can use the skills we learned for solving multi-step equations to ultimately arrive at the solution. Parentheses can make solving a problem difficult, if not impossible. To get rid of these unwanted parentheses we have the distributive property. Using this property we multiply the number in front of the parentheses by each term inside of the parentheses.

The Distributive Property of Multiplication

For all real numbers a, b, and ca(b+c)=ab+aca(b+c)=ab+ac. What this means is that when a number multiplies an expression inside parentheses, you can distribute the multiplication to each term of the expression individually. Then, you can follow the steps we have already practiced to isolate the variable and solve the equation.

Example

Solve for aa. 4(2a+3)=284\left(2a+3\right)=28

Answer: Apply the distributive property to expand 4(2a+3)4\left(2a+3\right) to 8a+128a+12

4(2a+3)=288a+12=28\begin{array}{r}4\left(2a+3\right)=28\\ 8a+12=28\end{array}

Subtract 12 from both sides to isolate the variable term.

8a+12   =   2812      128a   =   16\begin{array}{r}8a+12\,\,\,=\,\,\,28\\ \underline{-12\,\,\,\,\,\,-12}\\ 8a\,\,\,=\,\,\,16\end{array}

Divide both terms by 8 to get a coefficient of 1.

8a=168            8a=  2\begin{array}{r}\underline{8a}=\underline{16}\\8\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,8\\a\,=\,\,2\end{array}

Answer

a=2a=2

In the video that follows, we show another example of how to use the distributive property to solve a multi-step linear equation. https://youtu.be/aQOkD8L57V0 In the next example, you will see that there are parentheses on both sides of the equal sign, so you will need to use the distributive property twice. Notice that you are going to need to distribute a negative number, so be careful with negative signs!

Example

Solve for tt.  2(4t5)=3(2t+1)2\left(4t-5\right)=-3\left(2t+1\right)

Answer: Apply the distributive property to expand 2(4t5)2\left(4t-5\right) to 8t108t-10 and 3(2t+1)-3\left(2t+1\right) to6t3-6t-3. Be careful in this step—you are distributing a negative number, so keep track of the sign of each number after you multiply.

2(4t5)=3(2t+1)      8t10=6t3                \begin{array}{r}2\left(4t-5\right)=-3\left(2t+1\right)\,\,\,\,\,\, \\ 8t-10=-6t-3\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\end{array}

Add 6t-6t to both sides to begin combining like terms.

8t10=6t3+6t                  +6t       14t10=    3       \begin{array}{r}8t-10=-6t-3\\ \underline{+6t\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,+6t}\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\\ 14t-10=\,\,\,\,-3\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\end{array}

Add 10 to both sides of the equation to isolate t.

14t10=3+10   +1014t=   7\begin{array}{r}14t-10=-3\\ \underline{+10\,\,\,+10}\\ 14t=\,\,\,7\,\end{array}

The last step is to divide both sides by 14 to completely isolate t.

14t=7    14t14=714\begin{array}{r}14t=7\,\,\,\,\\\frac{14t}{14}=\frac{7}{14}\end{array}\\

Answer

t=12t=\frac{1}{2}\\ We simplified the fraction 714\frac{7}{14}\\ into 12\frac{1}{2}\\

In the following video, we solve another multi-step equation with two sets of parentheses. https://youtu.be/StomYTb7Xb8

Try It

[ohm_question]72650[/ohm_question]
  Sometimes, you will encounter a multi-step equation with fractions. If you prefer not working with fractions, you can use the multiplication property of equality to multiply both sides of the equation by a common denominator of all of the fractions in the equation. This will clear all the fractions out of the equation. See the example below.

Example

Solve  12x3=234x\frac{1}{2}x-3=2-\frac{3}{4}x by clearing the fractions in the equation first.

Answer: Multiply both sides of the equation by 4, the common denominator of the fractional coefficients.

12x3=234x             4(12x3)=4(234x)\begin{array}{r}\frac{1}{2}x-3=2-\frac{3}{4}x\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\\\\ 4\left(\frac{1}{2}x-3\right)=4\left(2-\frac{3}{4}x\right)\end{array}

Use the distributive property to expand the expressions on both sides. Multiply.

4(12x)4(3)=4(2)4(34x)42x12=8124x                       2x12=83x                           \begin{array}{r}4\left(\frac{1}{2}x\right)-4\left(3\right)=4\left(2\right)-4\left(-\frac{3}{4}x\right)\\\\ \frac{4}{2}x-12=8-\frac{12}{4}x\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \\\\ 2x-12=8-3x\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \end{array}

Add 3x to both sides to move the variable terms to only one side. Add 12 to both sides to move the variable terms to only one side.

2x12=83x+3x                       +3x5x12=8             \begin{array}{r}2x-12=8-3x\, \\\underline{+3x\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,+3x}\\ 5x-12=8\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\end{array}

Add 12 to both sides to move the constant terms to the other side.

5x12=8        +12+125x=20\begin{array}{r}5x-12=8\,\,\\ \underline{\,\,\,\,\,\,+12\,+12} \\5x=20\end{array}

Divide to isolate the variable.

5x=55         5x=4\begin{array}{r}\underline{5x}=\underline{5}\\ 5\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,5\\ x=4\end{array}

Answer

x=4x=4

Of course, if you like to work with fractions, you can just apply your knowledge of operations with fractions and solve. In the following video, we show how to solve a multi-step equation with fractions. https://youtu.be/AvJTPeACTY0 Regardless of which method you use to solve equations containing variables, you will get the same answer. You can choose the method you find the easiest! Remember to check your answer by substituting your solution into the original equation.

Try It

[ohm_question]52524[/ohm_question]

  Sometimes, you will encounter a multi-step equation with decimals. If you prefer not working with decimals, you can use the multiplication property of equality to multiply both sides of the equation by a a factor of 10 that will help clear the decimals. See the example below.

Example

Solve 3y+10.5=6.5+2.5y3y+10.5=6.5+2.5y by clearing the decimals in the equation first.

Answer: Since the smallest decimal place represented in the equation is 0.10, we want to multiply by 10 to make 1.0 and clear the decimals from the equation.

3y+10.5=6.5+2.5y            10(3y+10.5)=10(6.5+2.5y)\begin{array}{r}3y+10.5=6.5+2.5y\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\\\\ 10\left(3y+10.5\right)=10\left(6.5+2.5y\right)\end{array}

Use the distributive property to expand the expressions on both sides.

10(3y)+10(10.5)=10(6.5)+10(2.5y)\begin{array}{r}10\left(3y\right)+10\left(10.5\right)=10\left(6.5\right)+10\left(2.5y\right)\end{array}\\

Multiply.

30y+105=65+25y30y+105=65+25y

Move the smaller variable term, 25y25y, by subtracting it from both sides.

30y+105=65+25y  25y                             25y5y+105=65                 \begin{array}{r}30y+105=65+25y\,\,\\ \underline{-25y\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,-25y} \\5y+105=65\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\end{array}

Subtract 105 from both sides to isolate the term with the variable.

5y+105=65         1051055y=40\begin{array}{r}5y+105=65\,\,\,\\ \underline{\,\,\,\,\,\,-105\,-105} \\5y=-40\end{array}

Divide both sides by 5 to isolate the y.

5y=405             5   x=8\begin{array}{l}\underline{5y}=\underline{-40}\\ 5\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,5\\ \,\,\,x=-8\end{array}

Answer

x=8x=-8

In the following video, we show another example of clearing decimals first to solve a multi-step linear equation. https://youtu.be/wtwepTZZnlY Here are some steps to follow when you solve multi-step equations.

Solving Multi-Step Equations

1. (Optional) Multiply to clear any fractions or decimals. 2. Simplify each side by clearing parentheses and combining like terms. 3. Add or subtract to isolate the variable term—you may have to move a term with the variable. 4. Multiply or divide to isolate the variable. 5. Check the solution.

Classify Solutions to Linear Equations

There are three cases that can come up as we are solving linear equations. We have already seen one, where an equation has one solution. Sometimes we come across equations that don't have any solutions, and even some that have an infinite number of solutions. The case where an equation has no solution is illustrated in the next examples.

Equations with no solutions

Example

Solve for x12+2x8=7x+55x12+2x–8=7x+5–5x

Answer: Combine like terms on both sides of the equation.

12+2x8=7x+55x              2x+4=2x+5 \displaystyle \begin{array}{l}12+2x-8=7x+5-5x\\\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,2x+4=2x+5\end{array}

Isolate the x term by subtracting 2x from both sides.

            2x+4=2x+5        2x          2x                                4=5\begin{array}{l}\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,2x+4=2x+5\\\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\underline{-2x\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,-2x\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,}\\\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,4= \,5\end{array}

This false statement implies there are no solutions to this equation. Sometimes, we say the solution does not exist, or DNE for short.

This is not a solution! You did not find a value for x. Solving for x the way you know how, you arrive at the false statement 4=54=5. Surely 4 cannot be equal to 5! This may make sense when you consider the second line in the solution where like terms were combined. If you multiply a number by 2 and add 4 you would never get the same answer as when you multiply that same number by 2 and add 5. Since there is no value of x that will ever make this a true statement, the solution to the equation above is “no solution.” Be careful that you do not confuse the solution x=0x=0 with “no solution.” The solution x=0x=0 means that the value 0 satisfies the equation, so there is a solution. “No solution” means that there is no value, not even 0, which would satisfy the equation. Also, be careful not to make the mistake of thinking that the equation 4=54=5 means that 4 and 5 are values for x that are solutions. If you substitute these values into the original equation, you’ll see that they do not satisfy the equation. This is because there is truly no solution—there are no values for x that will make the equation 12+2x8=7x+55x12+2x–8=7x+5–5x true.

Think About It

Try solving these equations. How many steps do you need to take before you can tell whether the equation has no solution or one solution? a) Solve 8y=3(y+4)+y8y=3(y+4)+y Use the textbox below to record how many steps you think it will take before you can tell whether there is no solution or one solution. [practice-area rows="1"][/practice-area]

Answer:

Solve 8y=3(y+4)+y8y=3(y+4)+y

First, distribute the 3 into the parentheses on the right-hand side.

8y=3(y+4)+y=8y=3y+12+y8y=3(y+4)+y=8y=3y+12+y

Next, begin combining like terms.

8y=3y+12+y=8y=4y+128y=3y+12+y = 8y=4y+12

Now move the variable terms to one side. Moving the 4y4y will help avoid a negative sign.

    8y=4y+124y  4y    4y=12\begin{array}{l}\,\,\,\,8y=4y+12\\\underline{-4y\,\,-4y}\\\,\,\,\,4y=12\end{array}

Now, divide each side by 4y4y.

4y4=124y=3\begin{array}{c}\frac{4y}{4}=\frac{12}{4}\\y=3\end{array}

Because we were able to isolate y on one side and a number on the other side, we have one solution to this equation.

b) Solve 2(3x5)4x=2x+72\left(3x-5\right)-4x=2x+7 Use the textbox below to record how many steps you think it will take before you can tell whether there is no solution or one solution. [practice-area rows="1"][/practice-area]

Answer: Solve 2(3x5)4x=2x+72\left(3x-5\right)-4x=2x+7. First, distribute the 2 into the parentheses on the left-hand side.

2(3x5)4x=2x+76x104x=2x+7\begin{array}{r}2\left(3x-5\right)-4x=2x+7\\6x-10-4x=2x+7\end{array}

Now begin simplifying. You can combine the x terms on the left-hand side.

6x104x=2x+72x10=2x+7\begin{array}{r}6x-10-4x=2x+7\\2x-10=2x+7\end{array}

Now, take a moment to ponder this equation. It says that 2x102x-10 is equal to 2x+72x+7. Can some number times two minus 10 be equal to that same number times two plus seven? Let's pretend x=3x=3. Is it true that 2(3)10=42\left(3\right)-10=-4 is equal to 2(3)+7=132\left(3\right)+7=13. NO! We don't even really need to continue solving the equation, but we can just to be thorough. Add 1010 to both sides.

2x10=2x+7    +10           +102x=2x+17\begin{array}{r}2x-10=2x+7\,\,\\\,\,\underline{+10\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,+10}\\2x=2x+17\end{array}

Now move 2x2x from the right hand side to combine like terms.

     2x=2x+17  2x  2x       0=17\begin{array}{l}\,\,\,\,\,2x=2x+17\\\,\,\underline{-2x\,\,-2x}\\\,\,\,\,\,\,\,0=17\end{array}

We know that 0 and 170\text{ and }17 are not equal, so there is no number that x could be to make this equation true. This false statement implies there are no solutions to this equation, or DNE (does not exist) for short.

Algebraic Equations with an Infinite Number of Solutions

You have seen that if an equation has no solution, you end up with a false statement instead of a value for x. It is possible to have an equation where any value for x will provide a solution to the equation. In the example below, notice how combining the terms 5x5x and 4x-4x on the left leaves us with an equation with exactly the same terms on both sides of the equal sign.

Example

Solve for x5x+34x=3+x5x+3–4x=3+x

Answer: Combine like terms on both sides of the equation.

5x+34x=3+xx+3=3+x \displaystyle \begin{array}{r}5x+3-4x=3+x\\x+3=3+x\end{array}

Isolate the x term by subtracting x from both sides.

             x+3=3+x        x                    x                     3  =  3\begin{array}{l}\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,x+3=3+x\\\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\underline{\,-x\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,-x\,}\\\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,3\,\,=\,\,3\end{array}

This true statement implies there are an infinite number of solutions to this equation, or we can also write the solution as "All Real Numbers"

You arrive at the true statement “3=33=3.” When you end up with a true statement like this, it means that the solution to the equation is “all real numbers.” Try substituting x=0x=0 into the original equation—you will get a true statement! Try x=34x=-\frac{3}{4}, and it also will check! This equation happens to have an infinite number of solutions. Any value for x that you can think of will make this equation true. When you think about the context of the problem, this makes sense—the equation x+3=3+xx+3=3+x means “some number plus 3 is equal to 3 plus that same number.” We know that this is always true—it’s the commutative property of addition!

Example

Solve for x3(2x5)=6x153\left(2x-5\right)=6x-15

Answer: Distribute the 3 through the parentheses on the left-hand side.

3(2x5)=6x156x15=6x15 \begin{array}{r}3\left(2x-5\right)=6x-15\\6x-15=6x-15\end{array}

Wait! This looks just like the previous example. You have the same expression on both sides of an equal sign.  No matter what number you choose for x, you will have a true statement. We can finish the algebra:

             6x15=6x15        6x               6x                   15  =  15\begin{array}{l}\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,6x-15=6x-15\\\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\underline{\,-6x\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,-6x\,}\\\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,-15\,\,=\,\,-15\end{array}

This true statement implies there are an infinite number of solutions to this equation.

In the following video, we show more examples of attempting to solve a linear equation with either no solution or many solutions. https://youtu.be/iLkZ3o4wVxU In the following video, we show more examples of solving linear equations with parentheses that have either no solution or many solutions. https://youtu.be/EU_NEo1QBJ0

Summary

Complex, multi-step equations often require multi-step solutions. Before you can begin to isolate a variable, you may need to simplify the equation first. This may mean using the distributive property to remove parentheses or multiplying both sides of an equation by a common denominator to get rid of fractions. Sometimes it requires both techniques. If your multi-step equation has an absolute value, you will need to solve two equations, sometimes isolating the absolute value expression first. We have seen that solutions to equations can fall into three categories:
  • One solution
  • No solution, DNE (does not exist)
  • Many solutions, also called infinitely many solutions or All Real Numbers
And sometimes, we don't need to do much algebra to see what the outcome will be.

Licenses & Attributions