Help with Linear Equations.. simple easy Method would be great

[Finalshine]

need help with linear eqautions such as 3 x - 19 = - 13

 

my teacher goes through things way to quick no matter how many times you ask him to slow down

[timo]

Well then, slow down: What is your actual problem? Finding the "x" that solves the equation?

[Finalshine]

no just the actual way of working out these type equations..

[ajb]

You can use simple algebra here.

 

At the risk to giving you answer...

 

i)Add 19 to both sides of your equation

ii)Divide both sides of your equation by 3

 

These steps will work with any linear equation like the one you have given.

 

In generality you have [math]ax + b =c[/math], where we take a to be non-zero, but b and c could be zero. So follow the steps above

 

i) Add -b to both sides

ii) divide by a (which is non-zero by assumption)

 

I hope that helps. It gets more interesting when you have systems of equations and we can talk about that later on.

[Finalshine]

Thanks for the Help, after adding 19 to both sides, then dividing by 3 i come up with two answer 7.3 and 2.. now i no the answer is 2.. but how do i get rid of the 7.3..?

[imatfaal]

need help with linear eqautions such as 3 x - 19 = - 13

/snipped

 

 

You can use simple algebra here.

 

At the risk to giving you answer...

 

i)Add 19 to both sides of your equation

ii)Divide both sides of your equation by 3

 

\snipped

 

3x - 19 = - 13

3x -19+19 = -13 +19

 

Simplify that - you can leave the 3x alone as it has an x and nothing else does, but you have two plain numbers either side of the equals so you can simplify . (BTW you have done this step or the next one wrong if you get the answer you claim)