Solving Linear Equations in One Variable
A linear equation is an algebraic equation with a degree of 1. This means that the
highest exponent on any variable in the equation is 1.
A linear equation in one variable can be written in the form ax +b = c , where a, b,
and c are real numbers.
General guidelines for solving linear equations in one variable:
1. Simplify anything inside brackets.
2. Get rid of any brackets using the distributive property: a(b+c) = ab + ac
3. Collect like terms.
4. Isolate the unknown variable by moving all other terms to the other side of the
equation. To move a term across the equal sign, do the opposite operation on
the other side. (Addition → subtraction; subtraction → addition; multiplication →
division; division → multiplication).
𝑎 𝑐
5. Linear equations of the form 𝑏 = 𝑑 can be first simplified using cross
𝑎 𝑐
multiplication. 𝑏 = 𝑑 becomes ad = bc
Note: The above are guidelines only and are NOT a step-by-step guide to solving linear
equations in one variable. Different equations will require different techniques for
solving. In many cases, there is more than one way to solve a linear equation.
Examples:
Solve for x.
Example 1: 𝟐(𝒙 + 𝟏) = 𝟑(𝟒 − 𝒙)
2(𝑥 + 1) = 3(4 − 𝑥) Expand the brackets.
2𝑥 + 2 = 12 − 3𝑥 Move the x terms to the same side and the numbers to the
other side.
2𝑥 + 3𝑥 = 12 − 2 Collect like terms.
5𝑥 = 10 Move 5 to the other side by dividing by 5 on the right side.
10 Do the division.
𝑥=
5
𝑥=2
𝟐 𝟏 𝟒
Example 2: 𝟑 𝒙 − 𝟐 𝒙 = 𝟑
2 4 1 Move the like terms to the same side of the equation.
x− =
3 3 2
2 1 4 In order to subtract the x terms find a common denominator
x− x=
3 2 3 and re-write both terms as equivalent fractions with the same
denominator.
4 3 4 Subtract like terms.
𝑥− 𝑥=
6 6 3
1 4 Multiply x and 6
1
x=
6 3
𝑥 4 Move 6 to the other side by multiplying by 6 on the right side.
=
6 3
4 Do the multiplication.
x = (6)
3
24 Reduce the fraction.
x=
3
x=8
𝟑
Example 3: 𝒙 + 𝟒 = 𝟐
3 Move 4 to the right side of the equation.
+4=2
𝑥
3 Subtract.
= 2−4
𝑥
3 Cross multiply.
= −2
𝑥
3 −2
=
𝑥 1
3 = −2𝑥 Move −2 to the right side of the equation by doing the opposite
operation.
3 1 Leave your answer as an improper fraction or change it to a
𝑥 = −2 or 𝑥 = −1 2
mixed number.
Tutoring and Learning Centre, George Brown College 2014 www.georgebrown.ca/tlc
𝟑𝒙−𝟏
Example 4: 𝟓
= 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏
3𝑥 − 1 Cross multiply to get rid of fractions on both sides of the
= 3𝑥 + 1
5 equation. (Note that 3x + 1 can be written as a fraction with
3𝑥 − 1 3𝑥 + 1 a denominator of 1).
=
5 1
3𝑥 − 1 = 5(3𝑥 + 1) Expand the brackets on the right side using the distributive
property.
3𝑥 − 1 = 15𝑥 + 5 Move 15x to the left side of the equation. Move −1 to the
right side of the equation.
3𝑥 − 15𝑥 = 5 + 1 Collect like terms.
−12𝑥 = 6 Move −12 to the right side of the equation by doing the
opposite operation.
6 Simplify the fraction by reducing to lowest terms.
𝑥= −
12
1
𝑥=−
2
𝟐𝒙+𝟏 𝟏 𝒙−𝟑
Example 5: 𝟑
+𝟐=𝟏− 𝟓
2x + 1 1 x−3 To get rid of fractions on both sides of the
+ =1−
3 2 5 equation, first find the lowest common
multiple (LCM) of the denominators.
2x + 1 1 x−3 Multiply EVERY term in the equation by
30 � � + 30 � � = 30(1) − 30 � �
3 2 5 the LCM. Simplify each term. Fractions
can be reduced.
10(2x + 1) + 15(1) = 30 − 6(x − 3) Get rid of brackets by using the distributive
property.
20x + 10 + 15 = 30 − 6x + 18 Move like terms to the same side of the
equation.
20x + 6x = 30 + 18 − 10 − 15 Collect like terms.
26x = 23 Move 26 to the right side of the equation
by doing the opposite operation.
23
x=
26
Tutoring and Learning Centre, George Brown College 2014 www.georgebrown.ca/tlc
Practice Questions:
1. Solve for x.
a) 3 − 4x = 8x + 3
b) 20x + 4x − 18 = 30 − 6x
c) 1 − (2x + 5) = −3x
d) −24(10)x + 19x = 76x − (9x + 2)
e) 8 (x − 3) − 2(x − 2) = 20
f) x − 3 = 2(x + 5) + 2x + 2
1 3
g) (x − 6) + (x + 10) = 24
2 5
x
h) 1 − 3
=6
x 3x
i) 2
− 4
=1
2x 7x
j) 3
+ 6
= 5x + 30
Answers:
1. a) x = 0
b) x = 1.6
c) x = 4
1
d) x = 144
2
e) x = 6 3
f) x = −5
1
g) x = 19 11
h) x = −15
i) x = −4
9
j) x = −9 19
Tutoring and Learning Centre, George Brown College 2014 www.georgebrown.ca/tlc
