Chapter 6

Linear Equations

6.1 Linear Equations in One Variable

Identifying linear equations in one variable
1. Linear equations in one variable are the linear equations that has only one
variable.
2. The characteristics of linear equations in one variable are as follows:
a. involves sign “=”
b. the highest power is 1
c. the variable is represented by one letter

Example 1
Determine whether each of the following equations is linear equation in one
variable.
a. 3t = 10 + t
b. 5y = 9y + 2
c. 2x -7y + 14
d. 𝑦𝑥 3

Solution:
a. Yes, because there is a variable, t with its power 1.
b. Yes, because there is a variable, y with its power 1.
c. No, because it is not a linear expression and no "="
d. No, because there are two variables.

Example 2
Determine whether the following equations is linear equation in one variable.
a. 1 + 3x = 10
1
b. 𝑛 = 20
5

c. 3𝑥 + 24
d. 3x – 4z = 14a
 Solution:
a. Yes, because there is a variable, x with power 1

b. Yes, because there is a variable, n with power 1

c. No, because it is not a linear expression and without the “=” sign

d. No, because there are three variables

Forming linear equations in one variable

1. Identify the variable in the given situation
2. Represent the variable using one letter.
3. Form a linear equation.

Example 3
Form a linear equation in one variable for each of the following

a. X apple are divided equally among 5 people where each of them receives
20 apple.
b. Findy scored marks in a race whereas Jay scored 20 marks less than Findy.
Their total scores is 78.
c. When a number is subtract with 5, the product is 20.

Solution:
a. 𝑥 ÷ 5 = 20
b. a + a - 20 = 78
c. Let y be the number, y - 5 = 20

Example 4
Write a statement for each of following linear equations.
a. 2a - 3 = 6
b. 5b + 2 = 9

Solution:
a. 3 is subtracted from 2 times of a number is 6
b. 2 is added from five times of a number is 9.
Solving linear equations in one variable

1. The solution of linear equation is the numerical value that satisfies the
equation.
2. There are three methods to solve a linear equation in one variable namely trial
and improvement method, application of equality concept and backtracking
method.

Example 5
Solve the linear equation 2x + 6 = 10 by using
a. trial and improvement method,
b. application of equality concept
c. backtracking method.

Solution:
a. Try x =1
Left hand side,
2x +6
= 2 (1) + 6
=8
≠ 10
Thus x = 1 is not the solution for the given equation.

Try x = 2
Left hand side,
2x +6
= 2 (2) + 6
=4+6
= 10
Thus x = 2 is the solution for the given equation.
b.

2x + 6 = 10

2x + 6 – 6 = 10 – 6

= 1 1
=
2𝑥 4
=
2 2

Thus, x = 2

c. Let x be the initial value and 10 be final value.

Backtracking method:
X ÷ 2 -6 = 10
Therefore, the value of x can be written as
10 – 6 = 4 8÷4=2
Thus, x = 2
Example 6
Solve each of the following linear equation.
(a) y + 2 = 10
(b) y – 9 = 20
(c) -2y = 20
𝑦
(d) = −9
3

Solution:
(a) y + 2 =10
y + 2 – 2 = 10 – 2
y=8

(b) y – 9 = 20
y – 9 + 9 = 20 + 9
y = 29

(c) -2y = 20
-2y ÷ (-2) = 20 ÷ (-2)
y = -10

𝑦
(d) = −9
3
𝑦
× 3 = −9 × 3
3
y = - 27
Problem Involving Linear Equation in One Variable

Example 7
Mark 3 6 9 12
Number of participants x 5 10 8

The table above shows the marks obtained by a group of participants in a

Mathematics Quiz. The participants who score more than 6 marks will be given a
prize. It is given that the number of participants who received the prizes is twice the
numbers of participants who did not receive prizes from the organiser. Find the value
of x.

Solution:
Number of participants who received the prizes
= 10 + 8
= 18

Numbers of participants who did not receive prizes

=x+5

Given that numbers of participants who receive prizes is twice the number of
participants who did not receive prizes.

Thus, 2(x + 5) = 18
2(x + 5) = 18
2(𝑥+5) 18
=
2 2
x+5=9
x=9–5
x=4
 Linear Equation in Two Variables
Identifying linear equations in two variables

1. A linear equation in two variables is an equation which has two variables and
the power of each variable is one.
For example, x = y, 9a + 7b = 30, i – 3j = 2i – 5j
A linear equation in two variables is an equation that has linear algebraic
terms in two variables
ax + by = c
where a, b and c are constants and a ≠ 0, 𝑏 ≠ 0.

Example 8
Determine whether each of the following equations is linear equation in two variables.
(a) 3x – 2y = 9
(b) 3p = – p
(c) 5i + 4 j
(d) 3u = 6 – 9v

Solution:
a. Yes, there are two variable, x and y with power 1.
b. No, there is only one variable that is p.
c. No, it is a linear expression in two variables without the “=” sign.
d. Yes, there are two variables, u and v with power 1.

Example 9
Determine whether each of the following equations is linear equation in two variables.
(a) 2i + 8j = 12
(b) 𝑥 3 + 2𝑦 3 = 12
(c) 2A + 3D = 9C
9
(d) 𝑠 = 𝑠 + 3𝑠

Solution:
a. Yes, because there are two variables, i and j with the power of 1.
b. No, because the power of variable x and y is 3.
c. No, because there are three variables.
d. No, because the power of variable s is not 1.
Forming linear equations in two variables

Example 10
Write a situation for each of the following equations.
(a) x + y = 50 where x and y are integers.
(b) a + b = 3000, where a is the monthly salary of Mr Ali in RM1000 and b is the
monthly salary of Mr Ali’s wife in RM 2000
Solution:
a. The sum of integer x and integer y is 50.
b. The total monthly salary of Mr Ali and his wife is RM3000.

Example 11

Ali changed RM 15 into coins. He received only 50 cent and 20 cent coins. Write a
linear equation in two variables.
Solution:
Variables: The number of 50 cent and 20 cent coins
Let the number of 50 cent coins = x and the number of 20 cent coins = y
50x cent + 20y cent = 1500 cent
❖ 5x + 2y = 150

Solving Linear Equation in Two Variables

1. Solving linear equation in two variables can be solved by using

- Graphical method
- Substitution method
- Elimination method
2. In certain situations, we may obtain finite solutions. Observe the following
situation:

WXYZ is a rectangle with length y cm and width x cm. The perimeter of the
rectangle is 12cm. Find the possible values of x and y if x and y are positive
integers.
The length of the rectangle is always longer than its width. Hence, y is bigger
than x.
Perimeter = 12cm
2x + 2y =12
x+y=6

If x = 1, then 1 + y = 6, y = 5
If x = 2, then 2 + y = 6, y = 4
If x = 3, then 1 + y = 6, y = 3
Therefore, the solution is x = 1, y = 5 or x = 2, y = 4.

Example 12
Solve the following simultaneous linear equations by using graphical method
x + y = 8 and 2y = x + 4

Solution:
1. Construct a table of value for each equation separately.

For x + y = 8
x 0 8
y 8 0

For 2y = x + 4
x 0 -4
y 2 0

Draw the two-straight line based on the constructed table of values.

 Find the x – coordinates and y – coordinates for the point of
intersection of the two straight lines.
From the graph, the point of intersection is (4, 4). Thus, the
solution is x = 4 and y = 4.

Example 13
Given that 2x + 4y = 30, find the value of
a. y when x = 5
b. x when y = 2

Solution:
a. 2x + 4y =30, x = 5
2(5) + 4y = 30
10 + 4y = 30
4y = 30 – 10
4y = 20
y=5

b. 2x + 4y =30, y = 2
2(x) + 4(2) = 30
2x + 8 = 30
2x = 30 – 8
2x = 22
x = 11
Example 14
Solve each of the following simultaneous linear equations by using substitution
method.
(a) d + 2e = 5 and 2d + 3e = 8
(b) 4f - 5g = 7 and 2f + 3g = 9

Solution:
(a) Given d + 2e = 5 ----- (1)
2d + 3e = 8 ----- (2)
d = 5 – 2e ----- (3)

Substitute (3) into (2)

2(5 – 2e) + 3e = 8
10 - 4e + 3e = 8
-4e + 3e = 8 – 10
-e = -2
e=2

Substitute e = 2 into (3)

d = 5 – 2 (2)
d=1
Thus, the solution is d =1 and e = 2
(b) Given 4f - 5g = 7 ----- (1)
2f + 3g = 9 ----- (2)
7+5𝑔
f= ----- (3)
4
Substitute (3) into (2)
7+5𝑔
2( ) + 3g = 9
4
7+5𝑔
+ 3g = 9
2
7+5𝑔
= 9 – 3g
2

7 + 5g = 2(9 – 3g)
7 + 5g = 18 – 6g
5g + 6g = 18 – 7
11g = 11
g=1

Substitute g = 1 into (3)

7+5(1)
f= 4
12
f= 4

f=3
Example 15
Solve each of the following simultaneous linear equations by using substitution
method.
a. x + y = 7 and 3x - 2y = 11

Solution:
The given equations are:
x+y=7 ………… (1)
3x - 2y = 11 ………… (2)
y=7–x ………… (3)

Substitute (3) into (2)

3x - 2 (7 - x) = 11
3x - 14 + 2x = 11
5x - 14 = 11
5x = 11 + 14
5x = 25
x=5

Substitute x = 5 into (3)

y=7–5
y=2

Thus, the solution is x = 5 and y = 2

Example 16
Solve the system of equations graphically.
a. x + y = 4 and x - y = 2
Solution:
x - x + y = 4 - x ………… (1)

y = -x + 4 ………… (2)

If x = -2, then y = - (-2) + 4 = 2 + 4 = 6

If x = -1, then y = - (-1) + 4 = 1 + 4 = 5

If x = 0, then y = - (0) + 4 = 4

If x = 1, then y = - (1) + 4 = 3

If x = 2, then y = - (2) + 4 = 2

If x = 3, then y = - (3) + 4 = 1

If x = 4, then y = - (4) + 4 = 0

So, the table of values of the equation x + y = 4 is

X -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4

y = -x + 4 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

x-y=2
x-2=y
y=x-2
If x = -2, then y = -2 - 2 = -4
If x = -1, then y = -1 - 2 = -3
If x = 0, then y = 0 - 2 = -2
If x = 1, then y = 1 - 2 = -1
If x = 2, then y = 2 - 2 = 0
If x = 3, then y = 3 - 2 = 1
If x = 4, then y = 4 - 2 = 2
So, the table of values of the equation y = x-2 is

x -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
y=x-2 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2
Example 17
Solve the system of equation 2x – 3y = 1 and 3x – 4y = 1.

Solution:
The given equations are:
2x – 3y = 1 ………… (1)

3x – 4y = 1 ………… (2)

From equation (1), we get;

2x = 1 + 3y

1 + 3y
x=
2

Substituting the value of x in equation (2), we get;

1 + 3𝑦
3( ) – 4y = 1
2

3 + 9𝑦
– 4y = 1
2

3 + 9y – 8y = 2

y = -1

Substituting the value of y in equation (1)

2x – 3 (-1) = 1

2x + 3 = 1

2x = 1 – 3

2
x = −2

x = -1

Therefore, x = -1 and y = -1 is the solution of the system of equation

2x – 3y = 1 and 3x – 4y = 1.