LIVETUTORIALS LEARNING LIBRARY
Linear Equations in One Variable
Use equal operations on both sides of an equation, then substitute the result into the original relationship.
Overview
A linear equation in one variable has an unknown whose highest power is one. Solving such an equation usually involves collecting like terms, undoing addition or subtraction, and then undoing multiplication or division by a nonzero coefficient.
Treat the two sides as equal quantities rather than as symbols to move mechanically. Subtracting the same term from both sides explains why a term appears with the opposite sign after rearrangement. This explanation is more dependable than memorising a rule about crossing an equals sign.
The linked tutorial includes a fixed-fee example, an equation with brackets, and practice answers. It also distinguishes equations that have one solution from equations that reduce to a contradiction or an identity.
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- Solve a Linear Equation in One Variable
Solve one-variable linear equations with balanced operations, brackets and a substitution check in the original equation.