LINEAR EQUATIONS IN ONE VARIABLE 23

x 5 3
Example 3: Solve + =−
3 2 2
5 x −3 5 8
Solution: Transposing to the RHS, we get = − =−
2 3 2 2 2
x
or =–4
3
Multiply both sides by 3, x=–4×3
or x = – 12 (solution)
12 5 5 −8 + 5 −3
Check: LHS = − + = − 4+ = = = RHS (as required)
3 2 2 2 2
Do you now see that the coefficient of a variable in an equation need not be an integer?
15
Example 4: Solve – 7x = 9
4
15
Solution: We have – 7x = 9
4
15 15
or – 7x = 9 – (transposing to R H S)
4 4
21
or – 7x =
4
21
or x= (dividing both sides by – 7)
4 × ( −7)
3× 7
or x= −
4×7
3
or x= − (solution)
4
15 ⎛ −3 ⎞ 15 21 36
Check: LHS = −7 ⎜ ⎟ = + = = 9 = RHS (as required)
4 ⎝ 4⎠ 4 4 4

EXERCISE 2.1
Solve the following equations.
1. x – 2 = 7 2. y + 3 = 10 3. 6 = z + 2
3 17 t
4. + x= 5. 6x = 12 6. = 10
7 7 5
2x y
7. = 18 8. 1.6 = 9. 7x – 9 = 16
3 1.5