Linear Equations

Sentences such as 2x = 2, 3x = 6, 4y + 2xw = zw are called equations. An equation has a left side, right and
an equal to sign between them, which shows the left side is equal to right side. In linear equations, left
side is called LHS (left hand side) and right side is called RHS (right hand side). Thus,
LHS = RHS

Rule of solving equations

Same number can be multiplied, divided, added or subtracted from both sides of equations.

Rule of transpositions

We can transpose any variables from RHS to LHS and vice versa.

Solved Examples.

Type 1.

Example 1. Solve: 12x + 10 = 70.

Solution. LHS RHS Transposing of +10 of LHS to RHS. Due
12x + 10 = 70 to that, + 10 changes to - 10 (opposite).
 12x = 70 - 10
 12x = 60
 x = 60 ÷ 12 Transposing of × 12 of LHS to RHS. Due
 x = 5. to that, it changes to ÷ 12 (opposite).

Example 2. 4 times a number added by 12 gives 44. Then find that number.
Solution. Let the number be x.
Four times of that number will be 4x.
12 added to 4x will be 4x + 12, which is the equation.
 4x + 12 = 44
 4x = 44 - 12 (transposing + 12 from LHS to RHS which changes it to - 12)
 4x = 32
 x = 32 ÷ 4 (transposing × 12 from LHS to RHS which changes it to ÷ 12)
x=8
∴ The required number is 8.
Check: We have LHS = RHS
 (4 × 8) + 12 = 44
 32 + 12 = 44 = 44
Since LHS = RHS, the equation is correct.

Example 3. Solve: x + 7 = 20.

Solution. x + 7 = 20
 x + 7 - 7 = 20 - 7 (subtracting 7 from LHS and RHS)
 x = 13.

Type 2.

Example 4. Solve: x + 4 = 2x - 4.
Solution. x + 4 = 2x - 4
 x - 2x = -4 - 4
 -1x = -8
x=8 (Applying rule (-) × (-) = (-)).
Example 5. Twice a number added to 10 is same as 1 subtracted from thrice that number. Find the
number.
Solution. Let the number be x.
Twice number x added to 10 = 2x + 10 Check: 2x + 10 when x = 11
1 subtracted from thrice the number x = 3x - 1. = (2 × 11) + 10 = 22 + 10 =
Equation formed: 2x + 10 = 3x - 1 32.
2x + 10 = 3x - 1 3x - 1 = (3 × 11) - 1 = 33 - 1 =
 2x - 3x = -1 - 10 32.
 -1x = -11 32 = 32, ie., LHS = RHS,
−11 therefore the solution is
x= = 11. correct.
−1

Example 6. Solve: 3(x + 10) = 7x - 26.

Solution. 3(x + 10) = 7x - 26
 3x + 10 = 7x - 26
 3x - 7x = - 26 - 10
 -4x = -36
−36
x= = 9.
−4

Example 7. Solve: 3x + 15 = 5x + 5
Solution. 3x + 15 = 5x + 5
 3x - 5x = 5 - 15
 -2x = -10
−10
x= = 5.
−2

𝟒𝒙+𝟏 𝟑𝒙−𝟓
Example 8. Solve for x: +
𝟕 𝟓
4𝑥+1 3𝑥−5
Solution. 7
+ 5
 5(4x + 1) = 7(3x-5) (cross multiplying)
 20x + 5 = 21x - 35
 20x - 21x = - 35 - 5 (interchanging sides of + 5 and 21x)
 -1x = -40  x = 40.

Example 9. Sum of two different numbers is 23 and their difference is 1. Find the product of
numbers.
Solution. Think! We do not value of the any two numbers.
Therefore we have to consider the values of the numbers by taking any variables. Then
substitute the above problems.
Take the two numbers be x and y. According to the information,
x + y = 23 and x - y = 1.
x + y = 23
x-y=1
 2x = 24 (+y - -y = 0)
 x = 12.
Use any of the equations. We use the 2nd equation.
x-y=1
 12 - y = 1
 12 - 1 = y
 11 = y  y = 11.
∴ Required product = (12 × 11) = 132.
This type of equation is called simultaneous linear equations.
Alternatively. x - y = 1  y = x - 1.
For 2nd equation, x + y = 23,
 x + x - 1 = 23 (Since y = x - 1)
 2x - 1 = 23  2x = 24  x = 12
 x + y = 23  12 + y = 23  y = 23 - 12 = 11.

Product = 12 × 11 = 132.

Example 10. Sum of Age of Parul and Raghav is 33 and the difference is 3. Then find their ages.
Solution. Let Parul’s age is x and Raghav’s age is y.
We have: x - y = 3  y = x - 3 ....(1)
In second equation, x + y = 33.
 x + x - 3 = 33 (replacing y by x - 3)
 2x - 3 = 33  2x = 36  x = 18
y = 18 - 3 = 15 (from (1))
∴ Age of Parul and Raghav respectively is 18 years and 15 years.
Alternatively.
x + y = 33 x-y=3
x-y=3 18 - y = 3
 2x = 36 y = 18 - 3
 x = 18.  y = 15.

Example 11. If A + A + B + B + B + B + B = 40, A - B = 4, and A + B = 16, then find A × B.

Solutions. We have,
 A + A + B + B + B + B + B = 40
 2 A + 5 B = 40 ....(i)
Also, A - B = 4  B = A - 4 .....(ii)
Also, A + B = 16 .....(iii)
 A + A - 4 = 16 (from (ii))
 2 A = 16 + 4  2 A = 20  A = 10
From (i), we have
(2 × 10) + 5B = 40  5B = 20  B = 4
Required product = (10 × 4) = 40.

Example 12. Solve the following equations.

(i) 8x + 21 = 10x + 7
(ii) 2x + 3y = 34
2x - 3y = -14
Solution. (i) 8x + 21 = 10x + 7
 8x - 10x = 7 - 21
 -2x = -14  x = 7.
(ii) 2x + 3y = 34 ....(i)
2x - 3y = -14 ....(ii)
From (i) and (ii) we have,
 4x = 20  x = 5
Substituting value of x in equation (i), we have
10 + 3y = 34  3y = 24  y = 8
∴ x = 5, y = 8.

Word Problems.

On Costs.

Example 13. Cost of an apple is Rs. 50 more than a watermelon. If 2 apples and 2 watermelons
costs Rs. 260, then find the cost of the apple.
Solution. Let the cost of the apple be Rs. x.
∴ Cost of watermelon = Rs. (x - 50)
2 Watermelons + 2 Apples = Rs. 260  Apple + Watermelon = Rs. 130
 Rs. x + Rs. (x - 50) = Rs. 130  Rs. (2x - 50) = Rs. 130
  Rs. 2x = Rs. 180  x = Rs. 90
Cost of apple is Rs. 90.

On Ages

Example 14. Suman is 3 times 35 years older than Parul. If their difference between ages is 47
years, then calculate Parul’s age.
Solution. Let the age of Parul be x years.
∴ Age of Suman = (3x + 35) years.
We have,
3x + 35 - x = 47
 2x + 35 = 47  2x = 12  x = 6
∴ Age of Parul is 6 years.

Example 15. Sahil is 15 years older than his nephew. Three years hence, his age will be twice the
age of his nephew. Find the present age of Sahil’s nephew.
Solution. Let the age of Sahil’s nephew be x years.
 Age of Sahil = (x + 15) years.
After three years, Sahil’s nephew’s age will be (x + 3) years.
 Age of Sahil = (x + 15 + 3) years = (x + 18) years.
 (x + 18) = 2(x + 3)  x + 18 = 2x + 6.
 x - 2x = 6 - 18  -x = -12  x = 12 years.
∴ Age of Sahil’s nephew is 12 years.

Example 16. The ratio of ages of a man and a woman is 6 : 5. If 10 years hence, the ratio between
their ages is 8 : 7. Then, calculate their total age.
Solution. Let the ages of the man and the woman is 6x years and 5x years.
8
10 years later, their ratio of ages is 8 : 7, that is, 7.
We have,
6𝑥+10 8
 =  7 (6x + 10) = 8 (5x + 10) (cross multiplying)
5𝑥+10 7
42x + 70 = 40x + 80
 42x - 40x = 80 - 70
 2x = 10  x = 5.
Age of man = (6 × 5) years = 30 years
Age of woman = (5 × 5) years = 25 years.
∴ Total age = 30 years + 25 years = 55 years. (Problem solved)

On Numbers

Example 17. Sum of four consecutive is 62. Find the numbers.

Solution. Let the numbers be x, x + 1, x + 2, x + 3.
 x + x + 1 + x + 2 + x + 3 = 62
 4x + 6 = 60  4x = 54  x = 14
∴ The numbers are 14, 15, 16, and 17.

Example 18. There are three numbers. 2nd number is double of 1st one and 1st number is triple of
3rd one. If their sum is 500 then find the numbers.
Solution. The least number is the 3rd number. So, let the 3rd number be x.
 1st number = 3x.
 2nd number = 2 times of 1st number = 2 (3x) = 6x.
 6x + 3x + x = 500  10x = 500  x = 50
First number = (50 × 3) = 150,
Second number = (150 × 2) = 300,
Third number = 50.
On Speed, Time, and Distance.

Example 19. A child walked from school to home and again home to school. On the 1st part of
journey (school to home) he walked at a speed of 5 km/hr and on 2nd part of journey
(home to school) he walked at a speed of 4 km/hr. If the total duration of the journey
is 9 hours, then find the distance from home to school.
Solution. Let the distance from school to home be x km.
And distance from home to school and school to home is same.
Total time taken = 9 hours.
𝑥 𝑥 9𝑥 20×9
 hr + hr = 9 hr  hr = 9 hr  x = = 20 km
5 4 20 9
Distance from school to home is 20 kilometre.

Problems on Angles.

Example 20. Two supplementary angles are in a ratio of 2 : 3. Find the angles.
Solutions. Let the two angles be 2x° and 3x°.
 2x° + 3x° = 180°  5x° = 180°  x° = 36°
The two angles are 72° and 108°.

Problems on Mensuration.

Example 21. Length of a rectangle is twice its breadth. If the area is 392 cm2, then find the
perimeter of the rectangle.
Solution. Let the breadth of the rectangle be x cm.
∴ Length of the rectangle = 2x cm.
We have,
Area of the rectangle = Length × Breadth = 392 cm2
 2x × x cm = 392 cm2  2x2 = 392 cm2  x2 = 196  x cm = 14 cm
Perimeter of the rectangle = 2 (2x + x) = 6x = (6 × 14) cm = 84 cm.

Example 22. A rectangle of 31 m is drawn in a paper. If the length and breadth of the paper is 48 m
and 39 m, and area of the path is 973 m2, then find the breadth of the rectangle
drawn.
Solution. Let the breadth of the rectangle be x m.
∴ Area of the rectangle = Length × Breadth = 31x m2
Area of the paper = (48 × 39) m2 = 1872 m2
Now, area of the path = Area of paper - Area of rectangle drawn
= 1872 m2 - 31x m2 = 973 m2
= 31x m2 = 1872 m2 - 973 m2
= 31x m2 = 899 m2
= x m = 29 m.
∴ Breadth of the drawn rectangle is 29 m.

Miscellaneous Problems.
𝟒𝒙+𝟐 𝟐
Example 23. Solve the equation: 𝟓𝒙+𝟏𝟎 = 𝟑.
4𝑥+2 2
Solution. 5𝑥+10
= 3  3 (4x + 2) = 2 (5x + 10) (cross multiplying for clearing fractions)
New equation formed: 12x + 6 = 10x + 20
 12x - 10x = 20 - 6  2x = 14  x = 7.

Example 24. Sum and difference of ages of a girl and a boy is 36 years and 2 years respectively.
Then, find their ages.
Solution. Let the ages of girl and boy be x and y years respectively.
According to the information,
x - y = 2 years  y = (x - 2) years .....(1)
 Also, x + y = 36 years
From (1), we have
x + (x - 2) years = 36 years
 2x - 2 years = 36 years
 2x years = 38 years
 x years = 19 years.
∴ Age of girl = 19 years.
Substituting x = 19 in equation (1), we have
y = 17 years  Age of boy = 17 years.
Alternative method: We can directly work out as follows:
x + y = 36 years
x - y = 2 years
 2x = 38 years (Add the equations)
 x = 19 years  Age of girl = 19 years.
x + y = 36  19 + y = 36  y = 36 - 19 = 17 years.
 Age of boy = 17 years.

Example 25. Solve the equation:

2x + 3y = 16
5x - 6y = –14.
Solution. In this equation, we have to multiply one of the equation, to have opposite coefficients.
2x + 3y = 16
5x - 6y = –14
 2 (2x + 3y) = 32 (multiplying 2x + 3y = 16 by 2)
5x - 6y = –14
 4x + 6y = 32
5x - 6y = –14 (adding the both equations together to get one equation to solve)
 9x = 18  x = 2. (transposing 9 from LHS to RHS)
5x - 6y = –14
 6y - 5x = 14 (working with positive 14)
 6y - 10 = 14 (x = 2, 5x = 10)
 6y = 14 + 10  6y = 24  y = 4.
∴ x = 2, y = 4.

Example 26.