Contents

equations, inequalities
& partial fractions
1. Solving linear equations

2. Solving quadratic equations

3. Solving polynomial equations

4. Solving simultaneous linear equations

5. Solving inequalities

6. Partial fractions

Learning
outcomes
In this workbook you will learn about solving simple equations, both linear and quadratic,
which often arise as part of a more complicated problem. In order to gain confidence in
mathematics you will need to be thoroughly familiar with these basis topics. You will also
be introduced to partial fractions which will enable you to re-express an algebraic fraction
in terms of simpler fractions. This will prove to be extremely useful in later studies on
integration. You will also study how to manipulate inequalities.

Time
allocation
You are expected to spend approximately nine hours of independent study on the
material presented in this workbook. However, depending upon your ability to concentrate
and on your previous experience with certain mathematical topics this time may vary
considerably.

1
Solving linear  

equations 3.1
 

Introduction
Many problems in engineering reduce to the solution of an equation or a set of equations. An
equation is a type of mathematical expression which contains one or more unknown quantities
which you will be required to find. In this section we consider a particular type of equation
which contains a single unknown quantity, and is known as a linear equation. Later sections
will describe techniques for solving other types of equations.

 
• be able to add, subtract, multiply and
Prerequisites divide fractions
Before starting this Section you should . . . • be able to transpose formulae
 

✓ recognise and solve a linear equation

Learning Outcomes
After completing this Section you should be
able to . . .
1. Linear equations

Key Point

A linear equation is an equation of the form

ax + b = 0 a
= 0

where a and b are known numbers and x represents an unknown quantity which we must find.

In the equation ax + b = 0, the number a is called the coefficient of x, and the number b is
called the constant term.
The following are examples of linear equations
1
3x + 4 = 0, −2x + 3 = 0, − x−3=0
2
√
Note that the unknown, x, appears only to the first power, that is as x, and not as x2 , x,
x1/2 etc. Linear equations often appear in a nonstandard form, and also different letters are
sometimes used for the unknown quantity. For example
1
2x = x + 1 3t − 7 = 17, 13 = 3z + 1,1− y =3
2
are all examples of linear equations. Where necessary the equations can be rearranged and
written in the form ax + b = 0. We will explain how to do this later in this section.

Which of the following are linear equations and which are not linear?
(a) 3x + 7 = 0, (b) −3t + 17 = 0, (c) 3x2 + 7 = 0, (d) 5x = 0

The equations which can be written in the form ax + b = 0 are linear.

Your solution
3x + 7 = 0 is

linear

Your solution
−3t + 17 = 0 is

linear; the unknown is t

3 HELM (VERSION 1: March 19, 2004): Workbook Level 0

3.1: Solving linear equations
 Your solution
3x2 + 7 = 0 is

not linear because of the term x2

Your solution
5x = 0 is

linear; here the constant term is zero

To solve a linear equation means to find the value of x that can be substituted into the equation
so that the left-hand side equals the right-hand side. Any such value obtained is known as a
solution or root of the equation and the value of x is said to satisfy the equation.

Example Consider the linear equation 3x − 2 = 10.

(a) Check that x = 4 is a solution.
(b) Check that x = 2 is not a solution.

Solution

(a) To check that x = 4 is a solution we substitute the value for x and see if both sides of
the equation are equal. Evaluating the left-hand side we find 3(4) − 2 which equals 10,
the same as the right-hand side. So, x = 4 is a solution. We say that x = 4 satisfies the
equation.
(b) Substituting x = 2 into the left-hand side we find 3(2) − 2 which equals 4. Clearly the
left-hand side is not equal to 10 and so x = 2 is not a solution. The number x = 2 does
not satisfy the equation.

Test which of the given values are solutions of the equation

18 − 4x = 26

(a) x = 2, (b) x = −2, (c) x = 8

(a) Substituting x = 2, the left hand side equals

Your solution

But 10
= 26 so x = 2 is not a solution. 10.

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3.1: Solving linear equations
(b) Substituting x = −2, the left-hand side equals
Your solution

18 − 4(−2) = 26. This is the same as the right-hand side, so x = −2 is a solution.

(c) Substituting x = 8, the left-hand side equals

Your solution

18 − 4(8) = −14. But −14
= 26 and so x = 8 is not a solution.

Exercises
1. (a) Write down the general form of a linear equation.
(b) Explain what is meant by the root or solution of a linear equation.
In questions 2-8 verify that the given value is a solution of the given equation.

2. 3x − 7 = −28, x = −7

3. 8x − 3 = −11, x = −1
1
4. 2x + 3 = 4, x = 2
1 4
5. 3
x + 3
= 2, x = 2

6. 7x + 7 = 7, x = 0

7. 11x − 1 = 10, x = 1

8. 0.01x − 1 = 0, x = 100.

(b) A root is a value for the unknown which satisfies the equation.
the unknown quantity.
1. (a) The general form is ax + b = 0 where a and b are known numbers and x represents

Answers

2. Solving a linear equation

To solve a linear equation we try to make the unknown quantity the subject of the equation.
This means we attempt to obtain the unknown quantity on its own on the left-hand side. To
do this we may apply the same five rules used for transposing formulae given in Workbook 1
section 7. These are given again here.

5 HELM (VERSION 1: March 19, 2004): Workbook Level 0

3.1: Solving linear equations
 Key Point
Operations which can be used in the process of solving a linear equation:
• add the same quantity to both sides
• subtract the same quantity from both sides
• multiply both sides by the same quantity
• divide both sides by the same quantity
• take functions of both sides; for example square both sides.

A useful summary of these rules is ‘whatever we do to one side of an equation we must also do
to the other’.

Example Solve the equation x + 14 = 5.

Solution
Note that by subtracting 14 from both sides, we leave x on its own on the left. Thus

x + 14 − 14 = 5 − 14
x = −9

Hence the solution of the equation is x = −9. It is easy to check that this solution is correct
by substituting x = −9 into the original equation and checking that both sides are indeed the
same. You should get into the habit of doing this.

Example Solve the equation 19y = 38.

Solution
In order to make y the subject of the equation we can divide both sides by 19:

19y = 38
19y 38
=
19 19
38
cancelling 19’s gives y =
19
so y = 2

Hence the solution of the equation is y = 2.

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3.1: Solving linear equations
Example Solve the equation 4x + 12 = 0.

Solution
Starting from 4x + 12 = 0 we can subtract 12 from both sides to obtain

4x + 12 − 12 = 0 − 12
so that 4x = −12

If we now divide both sides by 4 we find

4x −12
=
4 4
cancelling 4’s gives x = −3

So the solution is x = −3.

Solve the linear equation 14t − 56 = 0.

Your solution

t=4

Example Solve the following equations:

√
(a) x + 3 = 7,
√
(b) x + 3 = − 7.

Solution

√
(a) Subtracting 3 from both sides gives x = 7 − 3.
√
(b) Subtracting 3 from both sides gives x = − 7 − 3.
√ √
Note that when asked to solve x + 3 = ± 7 we can write the two solutions √ as x = −3 ± 7.
It is usually acceptable to leave the solutions in this form (i.e. with the 7 term) rather than
calculate decimal approximations. This form is known as the surd form.

7 HELM (VERSION 1: March 19, 2004): Workbook Level 0

3.1: Solving linear equations
Example Solve the equation 23 (t + 7) = 5.

Solution
There are a number of ways in which the solution can be obtained. The idea is to gradually
remove unwanted terms on the left-hand side to leave t on its own. By multiplying both sides
by 32 we find

3 2 3
× (t + 7) = ×5
2 3 2
3 5
= ×
2 1
15
and after simplifying and cancelling, t+7 =
2
Finally, subtracting 7 from both sides gives
15
t = −7
2
15 14
= −
2 2
1
=
2
So the solution is t = 12 .

Example Solve the equation 3(p − 2) + 2(p + 4) = 5.

Solution
At first sight this may not appear to be in the form of a linear equation. Some preliminary
work is necessary. Removing the brackets and collecting like terms we find the left-hand side
yields 5p + 2 so the equation is 5p + 2 = 5 so that, finally, p = 35 .

Solve the equation 2(x − 5) = 3 − (x + 6).

Your solution
First remove the brackets on both sides.

2x − 10 = 3 − x − 6

HELM (VERSION 1: March 19, 2004): Workbook Level 0 8

3.1: Solving linear equations
We may write this as
2x − 10 = −x − 3
We will try to rearrange this equation so that terms involving x appear only on the left-hand
side, and constants on the right. Start by adding 10 to both sides.
Your solution

2x = −x + 7

Now add x to both sides.

Your solution

3x = 7

Finally solve this to find x.

Your solution
x=

3
7

Example Solve the equation

6 7
=
1 − 2x x−2

Solution
This equation appears in an unfamiliar form but it can be rearranged into the standard form
of a linear equation. By multiplying both sides by (1 − 2x) and (x − 2) we find
6 7
(1 − 2x)(x − 2) × = (1 − 2x)(x − 2) ×
1 − 2x x−2
Considering each side in turn and cancelling common factors:

6(x − 2) = 7(1 − 2x)

Removing the brackets and rearranging to find x we have

6x − 12 = 7 − 14x
further rearrangement gives: 20x = 19
19
x=
20
19
The solution is therefore x = 20
.

9 HELM (VERSION 1: March 19, 2004): Workbook Level 0

3.1: Solving linear equations
Example Consider Figure 1 which shows three branches of an electrical circuit which
meet together at X. Point X is known as a node. As shown in Figure 1 the
current in each of the branches is denoted by I, I1 and I2 . Kirchhoff’s current
law states that the current entering any node must equal the current leaving
that node. Thus we have the equation

I = I1 + I2

I X I2

I1

Figure 1.

(a) If I2 = 10A and I = 18A calculate I1 .

(b) Suppose I = 36A and it is known that current I2 is five times as great
as I1 . Find the branch currents.

Solution

(a) Substituting the given values into the equation we find 18 = I1 + 10. Solving for I1 we
find
I1 = 18 − 10 = 8
Thus I1 equals 8 A.
(b) We are given that, from Kirchhoff’s law, I = I1 + I2 . We are told that I2 is five times as
great as I1 , and so we can write I2 = 5I1 . Since I = 36 we have

36 = I1 + 5I1 = 6I1

Solving this linear equation 36 = 6I1 gives I1 = 6A. Finally, since I2 is five times as great
as I1 , we have I2 = 5I1 = 30 A.

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3.1: Solving linear equations
 Exercises
In questions 1-24 solve each equation:
1. 7x = 14 2. −3x = 6 3. 12 x = 7 4. 3x = 12
5. 4t = −2 6. 2t = 4 7. 4t = 2 8. 2t = −4
9. x6 = 3 10. x6 = −3 11. 7x + 2 = 9 12. 7x + 2 = 23
13. −7x + 1 = −6 14. −7x + 1 = −13 15. 3 t = −2
17
16. 3 − x = 2x + 8
17. x − 3 = 8 + 3x x
18. 4 = 16 19. 9 = −2
x
20. − 13
2
x = 14
21. −2y = −6 22. −7y = 11 23. −69y = −690 24. −8 = −4γ.
In questions 25 - 47 solve each equation:
25. 3y − 8 = 12 y 26. 7t − 5 = 4t + 7 27. 3x + 4 = 4x + 3
28. 4 − 3x = 4x + 3 29. 3x + 7 = 7x + 2 30. 3(x + 7) = 7(x + 2)
31. 2x − 1 = x − 3 32. 2(x + 4) = 8 33. −2(x − 3) = 6
34. −2(x − 3) = −6 35. −3(3x − 1) = 2
36. 2 − (2t + 1) = 4(t + 2) 37. 5(m − 3) = 8
38. 5m − 3 = 5(m − 3) + 2m 39. 2(y + 1) = −8
40. 17(x − 2) + 3(x − 1) = x 41. 13 (x + 3) = −9 42. m3 = 4
43. m5 = m+1
2
√ 44. −3x + 3 √ = 18 45. 3x + 10 = 31
46. x + 4 = 8 47. x − 4 = 23
48. If y = 2 find x if 4x + 3y = 9 49. If y = −2 find x if 4x + 5y = 3
50. If y = 0 find x if −4x + 10y = −8 51. If x = −3 find y if 2x + y = 8
52. If y = 10 find x when 10x + 55y = 530 53. If γ = 2 find β if 54 = γ − 4β
In questions 54-63 solve each equation:
54. x−5
2
− 2x−1
3
=6 55. x4 + 3x
2
− x6 = 1 56. x
2
+ 4x
3
= 2x − 7
5 2 2 5 x−3
57. 3m+2 = m+1 58. 3x−2 = x−1 59. x+1
= 4
60. x+1
x−3
=4 61. y−3
y+3
= 2
3
62. 4x+5
6
− 2x−1
3
=x
3 1
63. 2s−1
+ s+1 =0

64. Solve the linear equation ax + b = 0 to find x

1
65. Solve the linear equation ax+b 1
= cx+d (a
= c) to find x
65. a−c
d−b
(or c−a
b−d
) 64. −b/a 63. −2/5 62. 7/6 61. 15
60. 13/3 59. −7/3 58. 8/13 57. 1 56. 42 55. 12/19
54. −49 53. −13 52. −2 51. 14 50. 2 49. 13/4
48. 3/4 47. 23 + 4 46. 8 − 4 45. 7 44. −5 43. −5/3
42. 3/4 41. √
−30 40. √ 37/19 39. −5 38. 6 37. 23/5
36. −7/6 35. 1/9 34. 6 33. 0 32. 0 31. −2
30. 7/4 29. 5/4 28. 1/7 27. 1 26. 4 25. 16/5
24. 2 23. y = 10 22. −11/7 21. y = 3 20. −28/13 19. −18
18. 64 17. −11/2 16. −5/3 15. −6/17 14. 2 13. 1
12. 3 11. 1 10. −18 9. 18 8. −2 7. 21
6. 2 5. − 21 4. 61 3. 14 2. −2 1. 2
Answers

11 HELM (VERSION 1: March 19, 2004): Workbook Level 0

3.1: Solving linear equations