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x + 1 = 10

conditional, x = 9

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y 4 = 7

conditional, y = 11

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5 a = 25

conditional, a = 5

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x 4 = 9

conditional, x = 36

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18 b = 6

conditional, b = 3

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y 2 = y 2

identity

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x + 4 = x 3

contradiction

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x + x + x = 3 x

identity

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8 x = 0

conditional, x = 0

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m 7 = 5

conditional, m = 2

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Literal equations

Literal equations

Some equations involve more than one variable. Such equations are called literal equations .

An equation is solved for a particular variable if that variable alone equals an expression that does not contain that particular variable.

    The following equations are examples of literal equations.

  1. y = 2 x + 7 . It is solved for y .
  2. d = r t . It is solved for d .
  3. I = p r t . It is solved for I .
  4. z = x u s . It is solved for z .
  5. y + 1 = x + 4 . This equation is not solved for any particular variable since no variable is isolated.

Solving equation of the form x + a = b and x a = b

Recall that the equal sign of an equation indicates that the number represented by the expression on the left side is the same as the number represented by the expression on the right side.

This is the this number same as number x = 6 x + 2 = 8 x 1 = 5

    This suggests the following procedures:

  1. We can obtain an equivalent equation (an equation having the same solutions as the original equation) by adding the same number to both sides of the equation.
  2. We can obtain an equivalent equation by subtracting the same number from both sides of the equation.

We can use these results to isolate x , thus solving for x .

Solving x + a = b For x

x + a = b The a is associated with x by addition . Undo the association x + a a = b a by subtracting a from b o t h sides . x + 0 = b a a a = 0 and 0 is the additive identity . x + 0 = x . x = b a This equation is equivalent to the first equation, and it is solved for x .

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Solving x a = b For x

x a = b The a is associated with x by subtraction . Undo the association x a + a = b + a by adding a to b o t h sides . x + 0 = b + a a + a = 0 and 0 is the additive identity . x + 0 = x . x = b + a This equation is equivalent to the first equation, and it is solved for x .

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Method for solving x + a = b And x a = b For x

To solve the equation x + a = b for x , subtract a from both sides of the equation.
To solve the equation x a = b for x , add a to both sides of the equation.

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Sample set b

Solve x + 7 = 10 for x .

x + 7 = 10 7 is associated with x by addition . Undo the association x + 7 7 = 10 7 by subtracting 7 from b o t h sides . x + 0 = 3 7 7 = 0 and 0 is the additive identity . x + 0 = x . x = 3 x is isolated, and the equation x = 3 is equivalent to the original equation x + 7 = 10. Therefore, these two equation have the same solution . The solution to x = 3 is clearly 3. Thus, the solution to x + 7 = 10 is also 3.

Check : Substitute 3 for x in the original equation. x + 7 = 10 3 + 7 = 10 Is this correct? 10 = 10 Yes, this is correct .

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Solve m 2 = 9 for m .

m 2 = 9 2 is associated with m by subtraction . Undo the association m 2 + 2 = 9 + 2 by adding 2 from b o t h sides . m + 0 = 7 2 + 2 = 0 and 0 is the additive identity . m + 0 = m . m = 7

Check : Substitute 7 for m in the original equation. m 2 = 9 7 2 = 9 Is this correct? 9 = 9 Yes, this is correct .

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Use a calculator to solve this equation. Solve y 2.181 = 16.915 for y .

y 2.181 = 16.915 y 2.181 + 2.181 = 16.915 + 2.181 y = 14.734

On the Calculator
Type 16.915 Press + / Press + Type 2.181 Press = Display reads: 14.734

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Solve y + m = s for y .

y + m = s m is associated with y by addition . Undo the association y + m m = s m by subtracting m from b o t h sides . y + 0 = s m m m = 0 and 0 is the additive identity . y + 0 = y . y = s m

Check : Substitute s m for y in the original equation. y + m = s s m + m = s Is this correct? s = s True Yes, this is correct .

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Solve k 3 h = 8 h + 5 for k .

k 3 h = 8 h + 5 3 h is associated with k by subtraction . Undo the association k 3 h + 3 h = 8 h + 5 + 3 h by adding 3 h to b o t h sides . k + 0 = 5 h + 5 3 h + 3 h = 0 and 0 is the additive identity . k + 0 = k . k = 5 h + 5

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Practice set b

Solve y 3 = 8 for y .

y = 11

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Solve x + 9 = 4 for x .

x = 13

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Solve m + 6 = 0 for m .

m = 6

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Solve g 7.2 = 1.3 for g .

g = 8.5

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solve f + 2 d = 5 d for f .

f = 3 d

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Solve x + 8 y = 2 y 1 for x .

x = 6 y 1

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Solve y + 4 x 1 = 5 x + 8 for y .

y = x + 9

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Exercises

For the following problems, classify each of the equations as an identity, contradiction, or conditional equation.

g + g + g + g = 4 g

identity

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For the following problems, determine which of the literal equations have been solved for a variable. Write "solved" or "not solved."

4 a = y 6

not solved

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For the following problems, solve each of the conditional equations.

y + 6 = 11

y = 17

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g + 164 = 123

g = 287

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x + 17 = 426

x = 443

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y + 17.003 = 1.056

y = 18.059

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Solve n + m = 4 for n .

n = 4 m

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Solve P + 3 Q 8 = 0 for P .

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Solve a + b 3 c = d 2 f for b .

b = a + 3 c + d 2 f

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Solve x 3 y + 5 z + 1 = 2 y 7 z + 8 for x .

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Solve 4 a 2 b + c + 11 = 6 a 5 b for c .

c = 2 a 3 b 11

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Exercises for review

( [link] ) Simplify ( 4 x 5 y 2 ) 3 .

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( [link] ) Write 20 x 3 y 7 5 x 5 y 3 so that only positive exponents appear.

4 y 4 x 2

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( [link] ) Write the number of terms that appear in the expression 5 x 2 + 2 x 6 + ( a + b ) , and then list them.

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( [link] ) Find the product. ( 3 x 1 ) 2 .

9 x 2 6 x + 1

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( [link] ) Specify the domain of the equation y = 5 x 2 .

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Questions & Answers

Discuss the differences between taste and flavor, including how other sensory inputs contribute to our  perception of flavor.
John Reply
taste refers to your understanding of the flavor . while flavor one The other hand is refers to sort of just a blend things.
Faith
While taste primarily relies on our taste buds, flavor involves a complex interplay between taste and aroma
Kamara
which drugs can we use for ulcers
Ummi Reply
omeprazole
Kamara
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Renee
is a drug
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Kamara
Omeprazole Cimetidine / Tagament For the complicated once ulcer - kit
Patrick
what is the function of lymphatic system
Nency Reply
Not really sure
Eli
to drain extracellular fluid all over the body.
asegid
The lymphatic system plays several crucial roles in the human body, functioning as a key component of the immune system and contributing to the maintenance of fluid balance. Its main functions include: 1. Immune Response: The lymphatic system produces and transports lymphocytes, which are a type of
asegid
to transport fluids fats proteins and lymphocytes to the blood stream as lymph
Adama
what is anatomy
Oyindarmola Reply
Anatomy is the identification and description of the structures of living things
Kamara
what's the difference between anatomy and physiology
Oyerinde Reply
Anatomy is the study of the structure of the body, while physiology is the study of the function of the body. Anatomy looks at the body's organs and systems, while physiology looks at how those organs and systems work together to keep the body functioning.
AI-Robot
what is enzymes all about?
Mohammed Reply
Enzymes are proteins that help speed up chemical reactions in our bodies. Enzymes are essential for digestion, liver function and much more. Too much or too little of a certain enzyme can cause health problems
Kamara
yes
Prince
how does the stomach protect itself from the damaging effects of HCl
Wulku Reply
little girl okay how does the stomach protect itself from the damaging effect of HCL
Wulku
it is because of the enzyme that the stomach produce that help the stomach from the damaging effect of HCL
Kamara
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function of digestive
Ali
the diagram of the lungs
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Diya Reply
37 degrees selcius
Xolo
37°c
Stephanie
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Mark
36.5
Simon
37°c
Iyogho
the normal temperature is 37°c or 98.6 °Fahrenheit is important for maintaining the homeostasis in the body the body regular this temperature through the process called thermoregulation which involves brain skin muscle and other organ working together to maintain stable internal temperature
Stephanie
37A c
Wulku
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Diya Reply
anaemia is the decrease in RBC count hemoglobin count and PVC count
Eniola
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Diya Reply
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acid
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I information on anatomy position and digestive system and there enzyme
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anatomy of the female external genitalia
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Organ Systems Of The Human Body (Continued) Organ Systems Of The Human Body (Continued)
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Source:  OpenStax, Elementary algebra. OpenStax CNX. May 08, 2009 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col10614/1.3
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