CHAPTER 3

LINEAR EQUATIONS
3.1 Solutions of Linear Equations in One Unknown

Solve linear equations = Finding the value of the unknown which satisfies the
equation.
The solution of the equation is also known as the root of the equation.
A linear equation in one unknown has only one root.
To determine whether a given value is a solution of an equation, substitute the value
into the equation. If the sum of the left hand side (LHS) = sum of right hand side
(RHS), then the given value is a solution.

3.2 Solving Linear Equations in One Unknown through the operations +, , and
There are 4 different forms of linear equation as follows :
Type
I
II
III

Equation
x+a=b
xa=b
ax = b

Operation

Solution
x=ba
x=b+a

IV

x
= b, a 0
a

b
a
x=a b

Examples :

-5x = 30 x =
x+2=6x=62=4
x3=4x=4+3+7
12
4x = 12 x =
=3
4

x=

30
= -6
5

x
= 6 x = 6 2 = 12
2

x
= 3 x = 3 (-8) = -24
8

3.3 Solving Linear Equations in One Unknown involving combined operations of +, , and
Linear equations in the form of ax + b = c
Steps :
1. Work on the bracket first, if there is any.
2. Group the terms with the unknown on the left hand side of the equation while the
numbers on the equation using combined operations.
3. Solve the equation using combined operations.
4. Check your solution by substituting the value into the original equation.

Common Mistake
1.
WRONG
a.

x2=7
x
x

RIGHT
a.

=72
= 5

x2=7
x
x

=7+2
= 9

b.

y + 6 =1
y
= 1 + 6
y
= 7

b.

y + 6 =1
y
= 16
y
= -5

c.

2m = 10
m = 10 x 2
m = 20

c.

2m = 10
m = 10 2
m = 5

d.

1
n = 16
4
n = 16 x

d.

1
4

1
n = 16
4
n = 16

n = 4

1
4

n = 64

2.
WRONG
a.

RIGHT
a.

2 2 2 +

(w + 5)
w + 5
5 - 4
3

= 4
= 4
=w
= w

b.

2 (w + 5)
2w5
254
-7

=
=
=
=

4
4
w
w

-3 (w 2 )
-3w + 6
-3w
w

= 7
= 7
= 76

5 2 (w 1 )
5 2w + 2
5 + 26
1

=
=
=
=

b.
-3(w 2)
-3w - 6
-3w
w

= 7
= 7
= 7+6

5 2 2 (w 1 )
3 (w 1 )
3w 3
3w

=
=
=
=

13
3

c.

1
3

c.
6
6
6
6+ 3

6
6
2w
2w

= 3

= w

1
2

9
3

Addition / Subtraction
1.

EXAMPLE
m 3 = 5
m
= 5 + 3
m
= 8

1.

m 8 =

EXERCISE 1
6

2.

m + 4 = 7
m
= 74
m
= 3

2.

m + 3 =

3.

-3

+ m = -2
m = -2 + 3
m = 1

3.

-5

+ m = 3

4.

+ m = -2
m = -2 3
m = -5

4.

+ m = -3

5.

m7

6.

-6 +

7 +

5.

7
7 + 3
10
m

= m3
= m
= m
= 10

6.

-7
= m3
-7 + 3 = m
-4 = m
m = -4

7.

6
= -3 +
6 + 3 = m
9 = m
m = 9

7.

8.

-6
-6 3

8.

-3

= 3 +
= m
-9 = m
m = -9

Addition / Subtraction
1.

2.

3.

EXAMPLES
6m

m
m

=
=

65
1

-5

6 - m

m
m

=
=

6 + 5
11

= -m + 6

EXERCISE 2
7m

1.

2.

-6

3.

4.

-6 = - m + 5

5.

1m = 5

6.

2 m = -5

7.

m +

5m

= -m+8

m = 65
m = 1
4.

-5

= -m + 6
m = 6 + 5
m = 11

5.

5m

=
=

m
m

51
4

6.

5m

= -2

5 + 2 =
7 =

7.

1
=
2
m =

m
m

1
4
1 1
+
4 2

2
=
3

1
3

3
4

m =

EXERCISE 3
= 10

1.

2.

3.

x4

4.

u9

-11

5.

-u

6.

4u

7.

3u

-2

EXERCISE 4
1.

w +

2.

3.

w1

4.

w +

5.

3
4

1
2

1
4

1
3

2
3

1
5

+ w

1
2

6.

= w

7.

1 4w

1
3

1
5w
3

Division
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

EXAMPLES
8

2m

= 4
=

= -4

-8

8
2

= -4

-2m

= 4

1
m
2

-8

8
2

= 4

= 2

1
m
2

= -4

= -4

= -8

2
m
3
m

EXERCISE 1
8

2.

3m

3.

-4m

4.

-4m

-9

8
2

3m

8
2

2m

-2m

1.

1
m
3

6.

1
m
3

-5

7.

1
2

1
2

= 6

5.

2
3

2
m
5

10

m
8.

= -9

2
m
3

-6

= 6

= 9

8.

2
3

2
m
5

= - 10

Multiplication
EXAMPLES
1.

2.

m
5

m
m

= 25
= 10

m
5

= -2

m
m
3.

m
5

m
m
4.

5.

m
5

-2

m
3

1
2
1
3
=
2
3
=
2

m
3

m
m

2.

m
7

-3

3.

m
7

4.

m
7

-3

5.

m
7

6.

= 2 ( 5)
= -10

= -25
= 10

1.

= -25
= -10

m
m

6.

EXERCISE 1

m
2

1
2

1
(3)
2
3
=
2

3
2

m
6

3
2

7.

8.

m =
m =
m =

6 (1)

7.

m =

10

8.

m =

-10

1.

-6p

2.

3.

1 -

4.

5 = 2 +

-6

m =
m =
m =

-6

6 (1)
6

Solve each of the following equation:

1.

2.

3.

EXAMPLES
12

4p

12
4

1
w
3

= 6

= 18
=

2w

4
2
-2

4.

w
+ 1 = 4
2
w

= 41
2
w

= 3
2

6.

2n

w 4
=
9 3

w =

2
3

w
3

= 3 2 = 6

w
5.

EXERCISE 5
1

1
3

1 - 2w
- 5

+ 1

n +

2n n
n

=
=

61
5

5m 2

= 2m1

5m 2m =
3m
=

-1 + 2
1

5.

2n

+ 1

6.

5m + 2

2 n

= 4 2m

m
7.

1 2m = 4 m 3
1 + 3 = 4m + 2m
4
= 6m

4
6
2
3

1.

1
3

7.

EXAMPLES

m+3
2

m+3
2

-6

2m 1
7

2.

w3
6

= -2

3.

2w + 1
7

= 5 7
= 35
= 35 + 1

2m 1
2m 1
2m
m

4.

9m
4

4.

1
3

5.

2 4 = 9 m
m
m

5.

= 98
= 1

1
2m + 1
=
3
9
1
9 = 2m + 1
3
31
2

2
2

= 2m
= 2m
=

-3

2w
6

36
= 18
2

EXERCISE 6

w+6
2

m + 3 = -6 2
m + 3 = -12
m
= -12 3
m
= -15

3.

= 2m8

1.

m + 3 = 6 2
m + 3 = 12
m
= 12 3
m
= 9

2.

7m 3

2
3

2w
6

6.

m +1
3

6.

2w

m + 1 = m3
m + 1 = 3m
1
= 3m m
1
= 2m

1
2

= m

EXAMPLES
= 1
= 1
= 1 + 8
= 9

1. 4 ( m 2 )
4m 8
4m
4m
m
2.

=
4
4

42
2

=
=
=
=

2 ( m + 1)
2m + 2
2m
2m

2
2

4
4
4 - 3 + 2
3
3

EXERCISE 7
= 4

8
3

2.

24

3 ( k + 1)

3. 2 ( 1 + k ) - 4

= 2

3
= 1
3

2 - 3(2 + m) = 4
2 - 6 - 3m = 4
2 - 6 - 4
= 3m
-8
= 3m

1. 3 ( k 2 )

9
4

3. 3 ( 1 + m ) - 2 =
3 + 3m - 2 =
3m
=
3m
=
3m
=

4.

2w + 1
4

4.

4 - 2(2k + 3)

5.

2 - (2 + m) = 4
2 - 2 - m
= 4
-m = 4
m = -4

5.

3 - (k + 4)

-2

6.

3 - (2 - m)
3 - 2 + m

6.

3 - (4 - 2k)

= 4
= 4

m
m
7.

=
=

4
3

- 3 + 2

m + 5 = 2 - 3(2m - 1)
m + 5 = 2 - 6m + 3
m + 6m = 2 + 3 - 5
7m = 0
m=

7.

2k + 2

1.

2.

2
w
3

= -3

3.

4.

2
w

5.

3
w

7 - 3(k + 5)

0
= 0
7

EXERCISE 8

m 10
3

1
w
3

= 1

EXERCISE 9
= 1 ( k + 5)

1.

2k + 5

2.

1 2(1 k )

3.

4.

( 3k + 5) =

5.

4k

k + 2

= 4k 3( k + 2)

3k

-3 ( k 2)

6.

3w 1
w

6.

4
3

Questions based on examination format

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Given that

2
m + 2 = 6, then m =
3

A. 6

B. 8

Given that

7m + 2
= 3, then m =
4

A. -4

B. -2

Given that

4m + 3
7 = 4, then m =
5

A. -6

B. -4

Given that

2
m 1 = 9, then m =
5

A. 4

B. 20

Given that

1
(1 6q) + 9 = 4(q 3), therefore q =
3

A.

6.

32
9

B.

16
3

C. 10

C. 2

C. 3

C. 25

C. 18

Given that

2p
3 = 5, then p =
5

A. 20

B. 10

C. 5

D. 12

D. 4

D. 6

D. 50

D. 32

D. 1

= 2(4k)

7.

8.

9.

10.

Given that

1
m + 1 = 5, then m =
4

A. 1

B. 16

A. 0

B. 1

Given that

3 + 5k
= 2k + 3, then k =
4

A. 0

B. -2

Given that 4 -

1
3

Given that

B. -2

B. -7

17.

C.

5
3

D.

7
3

C. -1

D. 0

C. 4

D. 5

Given that 3(1 2p) = 2(4p 9), therefore p =

2
3

B.

Given that 2 -

B. 3

Given that 2 -

Given that

3
4

C.

6
5

D.

3
2

m
= m - 2, then m =
3
C. 0

D. -3

C. -6

D. -10

C. 64

D. 81

y
= 4, then y =
3

A. 10

16.

2
3

1
(m + 3) = 4 - 2(m + 5), therefore m =
3

A. 6

15.

D. -5

Given that 2(3q + 7) - 3(q 2) = -1, therefore q =

A.

14.

D. 4

C. -3

B.

A. -2
13.

C. 3

2
(6k 1) = 3k, then k =
3

A. -3

12.

D. 24

Given that 6 2(m 3) = m, then m =

A.

11.

C. 19

B. 6

1
x 2 = 6, then x =
8

A. 1

B. 32

Solve the equation

2k
+ 3 = k 2.
7

A.
18.

1
7

B. 3

1
2

C. 3

3
4

D. 7

Solve the equation 9m + 5(m 2) = 60.

A. 3

19.

20.

4
7

B. 5

C. 12

Solve the equation

2m
+ 2 = 2.
3

A. -12

B. -6

Given that 2 -

1
2

D. 17

C. 0

D. 24

C. -6

D. -12

2
p = - 6, then p =
3

A. 6

B. 12

Past Year SPM Questions

November 2003

1. Given that
A. 1

1
p + 1 = 4, then p =
3
B. 9

C. 11

D. 15

July 2004

2. Given that 7(k 3) = 1 4k, then k =

4
A. 2
B. 7
C.
3

D.

4
11

D.

7
4

D.

3
2

November 2004

3. Given that 3k 4 = 5(2 k ) then k =

7
A. -7
B. -3
C.
2
July 2005

4. Given that
A.

8
5

1
2

h 5
= , then h =
2 4
5
B.
8

C.

5
2

November 2005

5. Given that 10 3(2 w) = 9w + 2, calculate the value of w.

1
1
1
2
A.
B.
C.
D.
6
4
3
5

July 2006

6. Given that 9 3(k 2) = 0 , then k =

A. 1

B. 2

C. 5

D. 8

November 2006
7.

Given that
A.

17
12

5
4k = 2(3 k ), then k =
2
17
17
B.
C.
10
6

D.

17
4

Jun 2007
8. Given that 9 3(k 8) = 3 k , find the value of k
A. -9
B. -1
C. 15
D. 18
November 2007
9.

Given that
A.

2
9

x +1
= 2 x 1, find the value of x =
5
4
5
B.
C.
11
9

D.

2
3

Jun 2008
10.

Given that
A. 6

1
(3n + 2) = n 2, calculate the value of n =
5
B. 2
C. 2
D. -6

November 2008
11.

Given that p + 2 =
A.

1
2

3(1 2 p)
find the value of p =
4
1
1
1
B.
C.
D.
5
10
6

ANSWERS

Chapter 3 Linear Equation

Addition/Subtraction

1
4
7

14
5
9

4.

2
5
8

6
10
10

3
6

8
3

1
11
- 1/3

2
5

11
-4

3
6

2
7

2
5

-4
-1

3
6

7
-3

1.

Exercise 3

1
4
7

9
-2
-19

4.

10
3
-1

7.

-2

-
1 4/5
-1

2
5

7/12
-1

3
6

1 2/3
-3

4.

7.

-1

1
6

-12

3.

5.

1
3

6.

2
3
2
7

12

2.

-9

3.

-11

-1/6
9
-1

2
5

-12
1/3

3
6

1 2/3
2/7

12
0

2
5

-9
3

3
6

-11
1/6

10/3
-1
-2

2
5

7
1

3
6

2
3/2

Linear Equations

5.

6.

3
2

3.

-9

2.

4.

1
4

5.

6.

3
5

2.
5.

3
-4

3.
6.

9
4

2
5
8

5/3
15
25

3
6

-7/4
-15

2
5
8

-21
21/2
10

3
6

-21
9

1
4
7

Exercise 3

1
4
7

3.

9
2

-3
1
3
8/3
9/4
-25

Multiplication
Exercise 1

Exercise 2

1
4

-5

1
4
7

SPM Format
Exercise 1

1
4
7

2.

Division
Exercise 1

Exercise 6

1.

1
6

1.

1.
4.
2.

6.

Exercise 9

Exercise 5

1.

Exercise 8

Exercise 4

1
4
7

5.

Exercise 7

Exercise 2

1
4
7

6
21
-10

Exercise 4

1
4

-5

2
5

-9/2
1

3
6

-9
3/5

Exercise 5

1
4

-3
1/3

2
5

3
-4

3
6

9
4

SPM Format

1
4
7
10
13
16
19

A
C
B
B
D
C
B

2
5
8
11
14
17
20

B
A
D
A
B
D
B

3
6
9
12
15
18

C
A
C
B
C
B

SPM PAST YEAR QUESTIONS

10

11

Linear Equations