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NCERT Textbook: Linear Equations in One Variable

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 Page 1


? ???????? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?????????????? ? ? ? ?
2.1  Introduction
In the earlier classes, you have come across several algebraic expressions and equations.
Some examples of expressions we have so far worked with are:
5x, 2x – 3, 3x + y, 2xy + 5, xyz + x + y + z, x
2
 + 1, y + y
2
Some examples of equations are: 5x = 25, 2x – 3 = 9, 
5 37
2 , 6 10 2
22
yz + = + =-
You would remember that equations use the equality (=) sign; it is missing in expressions.
Of these given expressions, many have more than one variable. For example, 2 xy + 5
has two variables. We however, restrict to expressions with only one variable when we
form equations. Moreover, the expressions we use to form equations are linear . This means
that the highest power of the variable appearing in the expression is 1.
These are linear expressions:
2x, 2x + 1, 3y – 7, 12 – 5z, 
5
( – 4) 10
4
x +
These are not linear expressions:
x
2
 + 1, y + y
2
, 1 + z + z
2
 + z
3
(since highest power of variable > 1)
Here we will deal with equations with linear expressions in one variable only. Such
equations are known as linear equations in one variable. The simple equations which
you studied in the earlier classes were all of this type.
Let us briefly revise what we know:
(a) An algebraic equation is an equality
involving variables. It  has an equality sign.
The expression on the left of the equality sign
is the Left Hand Side (LHS). The expression
on the right of the equality sign is the Right
Hand Side (RHS).
? ? ? ? ? ? ?
?
??????? ?????????? ??
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
2x – 3 = 7
2x – 3 = LHS
7 = RHS
Reprint 2024-25
Page 2


? ???????? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?????????????? ? ? ? ?
2.1  Introduction
In the earlier classes, you have come across several algebraic expressions and equations.
Some examples of expressions we have so far worked with are:
5x, 2x – 3, 3x + y, 2xy + 5, xyz + x + y + z, x
2
 + 1, y + y
2
Some examples of equations are: 5x = 25, 2x – 3 = 9, 
5 37
2 , 6 10 2
22
yz + = + =-
You would remember that equations use the equality (=) sign; it is missing in expressions.
Of these given expressions, many have more than one variable. For example, 2 xy + 5
has two variables. We however, restrict to expressions with only one variable when we
form equations. Moreover, the expressions we use to form equations are linear . This means
that the highest power of the variable appearing in the expression is 1.
These are linear expressions:
2x, 2x + 1, 3y – 7, 12 – 5z, 
5
( – 4) 10
4
x +
These are not linear expressions:
x
2
 + 1, y + y
2
, 1 + z + z
2
 + z
3
(since highest power of variable > 1)
Here we will deal with equations with linear expressions in one variable only. Such
equations are known as linear equations in one variable. The simple equations which
you studied in the earlier classes were all of this type.
Let us briefly revise what we know:
(a) An algebraic equation is an equality
involving variables. It  has an equality sign.
The expression on the left of the equality sign
is the Left Hand Side (LHS). The expression
on the right of the equality sign is the Right
Hand Side (RHS).
? ? ? ? ? ? ?
?
??????? ?????????? ??
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
2x – 3 = 7
2x – 3 = LHS
7 = RHS
Reprint 2024-25
??? ? ? ? ????? ????
(b) In an equation the values of
the expressions on the LHS
and RHS are equal. This
happens to be true only for
certain values of the variable.
These values are the
solutions of the equation.
(c) How to find the solution of an equation?
We assume that the two sides of the equation are balanced.
We perform the same mathematical operations on both
sides of the equation, so that the balance is not disturbed.
A few such steps give the solution.
2.2 Solving Equations having the Variable on
both Sides
An equation is the equality of the values of two expressions. In the equation 2x – 3 = 7,
the two expressions are  2x – 3 and 7.  In most examples that we have come across so
far, the RHS is just a number.  But this need not always be so; both sides could have
expressions with variables.  For example, the equation  2x – 3 = x + 2 has expressions
with a variable on both sides; the expression on the LHS is (2x – 3) and the expression
on the RHS is (x + 2).
• We now discuss how to solve such equations which have expressions with the variable
on both sides.
Example 1: Solve 2x – 3 = x + 2
Solution: We have
2x = x + 2 + 3
or 2x = x + 5
or 2x – x = x + 5 – x (subtracting x from both sides)
or x = 5 (solution)
Here we subtracted from both sides of the equation, not a number (constant), but a
term involving the variable. We can do this as variables are also numbers. Also, note that
subtracting x from both sides amounts to transposing x to LHS.
Example 2: Solve 5x + 
73
14
22
x =-
Solution: Multiply both sides of the equation by 2. We get
25
7
2
×+
?
?
?
?
?
?
x
 =
2
3
2
14 ×-
?
?
?
?
?
?
x
x = 5 is the solution of the equation
2x – 3 = 7. For  x = 5,
LHS = 2 × 5 – 3 = 7 = RHS
On the other hand x = 10 is not a solution of the
equation. For x = 10,  LHS = 2 × 10 –3 = 17.
This is not equal to the RHS
Reprint 2024-25
Page 3


? ???????? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?????????????? ? ? ? ?
2.1  Introduction
In the earlier classes, you have come across several algebraic expressions and equations.
Some examples of expressions we have so far worked with are:
5x, 2x – 3, 3x + y, 2xy + 5, xyz + x + y + z, x
2
 + 1, y + y
2
Some examples of equations are: 5x = 25, 2x – 3 = 9, 
5 37
2 , 6 10 2
22
yz + = + =-
You would remember that equations use the equality (=) sign; it is missing in expressions.
Of these given expressions, many have more than one variable. For example, 2 xy + 5
has two variables. We however, restrict to expressions with only one variable when we
form equations. Moreover, the expressions we use to form equations are linear . This means
that the highest power of the variable appearing in the expression is 1.
These are linear expressions:
2x, 2x + 1, 3y – 7, 12 – 5z, 
5
( – 4) 10
4
x +
These are not linear expressions:
x
2
 + 1, y + y
2
, 1 + z + z
2
 + z
3
(since highest power of variable > 1)
Here we will deal with equations with linear expressions in one variable only. Such
equations are known as linear equations in one variable. The simple equations which
you studied in the earlier classes were all of this type.
Let us briefly revise what we know:
(a) An algebraic equation is an equality
involving variables. It  has an equality sign.
The expression on the left of the equality sign
is the Left Hand Side (LHS). The expression
on the right of the equality sign is the Right
Hand Side (RHS).
? ? ? ? ? ? ?
?
??????? ?????????? ??
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
2x – 3 = 7
2x – 3 = LHS
7 = RHS
Reprint 2024-25
??? ? ? ? ????? ????
(b) In an equation the values of
the expressions on the LHS
and RHS are equal. This
happens to be true only for
certain values of the variable.
These values are the
solutions of the equation.
(c) How to find the solution of an equation?
We assume that the two sides of the equation are balanced.
We perform the same mathematical operations on both
sides of the equation, so that the balance is not disturbed.
A few such steps give the solution.
2.2 Solving Equations having the Variable on
both Sides
An equation is the equality of the values of two expressions. In the equation 2x – 3 = 7,
the two expressions are  2x – 3 and 7.  In most examples that we have come across so
far, the RHS is just a number.  But this need not always be so; both sides could have
expressions with variables.  For example, the equation  2x – 3 = x + 2 has expressions
with a variable on both sides; the expression on the LHS is (2x – 3) and the expression
on the RHS is (x + 2).
• We now discuss how to solve such equations which have expressions with the variable
on both sides.
Example 1: Solve 2x – 3 = x + 2
Solution: We have
2x = x + 2 + 3
or 2x = x + 5
or 2x – x = x + 5 – x (subtracting x from both sides)
or x = 5 (solution)
Here we subtracted from both sides of the equation, not a number (constant), but a
term involving the variable. We can do this as variables are also numbers. Also, note that
subtracting x from both sides amounts to transposing x to LHS.
Example 2: Solve 5x + 
73
14
22
x =-
Solution: Multiply both sides of the equation by 2. We get
25
7
2
×+
?
?
?
?
?
?
x
 =
2
3
2
14 ×-
?
?
?
?
?
?
x
x = 5 is the solution of the equation
2x – 3 = 7. For  x = 5,
LHS = 2 × 5 – 3 = 7 = RHS
On the other hand x = 10 is not a solution of the
equation. For x = 10,  LHS = 2 × 10 –3 = 17.
This is not equal to the RHS
Reprint 2024-25
? ???????? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?????????????? ? ? ? ?
Why 6? Because it is the
smallest multiple (or LCM)
of the given denominators.
(2 × 5x) + 
2
7
2
×
?
?
?
?
?
? = 2
3
2
2 14 ×
?
?
?
?
?
?
-× x ()
or 10x + 7 = 3x – 28
or 10x – 3x + 7 = – 28 (transposing 3x to LHS)
or 7x + 7 = – 28
or 7x = – 28 – 7
or 7x = – 35
or x =
35
7
-
or x = – 5 (solution)
EXERCISE 2.1
Solve the following equations and check your results.
1. 3x = 2x + 18 2. 5t – 3 = 3t – 5 3. 5x + 9 = 5 + 3x
4. 4z + 3 = 6 + 2z 5. 2x – 1 = 14 – x 6. 8x + 4 = 3 (x – 1) + 7
7. x = 
4
5
 (x + 10) 8.
2
3
x
 + 1 = 
7
3
15
x
+
9. 2y + 
5
3
 = 
26
3
y -
10. 3m = 5 m – 
8
5
2.3  Reducing Equations to Simpler Form
Example 16: Solve 
61 3
1
36
xx +-
+=
Solution: Multiplying both sides of the equation by 6,
6 (6 1)
61
3
x+
+×
 =
6( 3)
6
x-
or 2 (6x + 1) + 6 = x – 3
or 12x + 2 + 6 = x – 3 (opening the brackets )
or 12x + 8 = x – 3
or 12x – x + 8 = – 3
or 11x + 8 = – 3
or 11x = –3 – 8
or 11x = –11
or x = – 1 (required solution)
Reprint 2024-25
Page 4


? ???????? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?????????????? ? ? ? ?
2.1  Introduction
In the earlier classes, you have come across several algebraic expressions and equations.
Some examples of expressions we have so far worked with are:
5x, 2x – 3, 3x + y, 2xy + 5, xyz + x + y + z, x
2
 + 1, y + y
2
Some examples of equations are: 5x = 25, 2x – 3 = 9, 
5 37
2 , 6 10 2
22
yz + = + =-
You would remember that equations use the equality (=) sign; it is missing in expressions.
Of these given expressions, many have more than one variable. For example, 2 xy + 5
has two variables. We however, restrict to expressions with only one variable when we
form equations. Moreover, the expressions we use to form equations are linear . This means
that the highest power of the variable appearing in the expression is 1.
These are linear expressions:
2x, 2x + 1, 3y – 7, 12 – 5z, 
5
( – 4) 10
4
x +
These are not linear expressions:
x
2
 + 1, y + y
2
, 1 + z + z
2
 + z
3
(since highest power of variable > 1)
Here we will deal with equations with linear expressions in one variable only. Such
equations are known as linear equations in one variable. The simple equations which
you studied in the earlier classes were all of this type.
Let us briefly revise what we know:
(a) An algebraic equation is an equality
involving variables. It  has an equality sign.
The expression on the left of the equality sign
is the Left Hand Side (LHS). The expression
on the right of the equality sign is the Right
Hand Side (RHS).
? ? ? ? ? ? ?
?
??????? ?????????? ??
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
2x – 3 = 7
2x – 3 = LHS
7 = RHS
Reprint 2024-25
??? ? ? ? ????? ????
(b) In an equation the values of
the expressions on the LHS
and RHS are equal. This
happens to be true only for
certain values of the variable.
These values are the
solutions of the equation.
(c) How to find the solution of an equation?
We assume that the two sides of the equation are balanced.
We perform the same mathematical operations on both
sides of the equation, so that the balance is not disturbed.
A few such steps give the solution.
2.2 Solving Equations having the Variable on
both Sides
An equation is the equality of the values of two expressions. In the equation 2x – 3 = 7,
the two expressions are  2x – 3 and 7.  In most examples that we have come across so
far, the RHS is just a number.  But this need not always be so; both sides could have
expressions with variables.  For example, the equation  2x – 3 = x + 2 has expressions
with a variable on both sides; the expression on the LHS is (2x – 3) and the expression
on the RHS is (x + 2).
• We now discuss how to solve such equations which have expressions with the variable
on both sides.
Example 1: Solve 2x – 3 = x + 2
Solution: We have
2x = x + 2 + 3
or 2x = x + 5
or 2x – x = x + 5 – x (subtracting x from both sides)
or x = 5 (solution)
Here we subtracted from both sides of the equation, not a number (constant), but a
term involving the variable. We can do this as variables are also numbers. Also, note that
subtracting x from both sides amounts to transposing x to LHS.
Example 2: Solve 5x + 
73
14
22
x =-
Solution: Multiply both sides of the equation by 2. We get
25
7
2
×+
?
?
?
?
?
?
x
 =
2
3
2
14 ×-
?
?
?
?
?
?
x
x = 5 is the solution of the equation
2x – 3 = 7. For  x = 5,
LHS = 2 × 5 – 3 = 7 = RHS
On the other hand x = 10 is not a solution of the
equation. For x = 10,  LHS = 2 × 10 –3 = 17.
This is not equal to the RHS
Reprint 2024-25
? ???????? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?????????????? ? ? ? ?
Why 6? Because it is the
smallest multiple (or LCM)
of the given denominators.
(2 × 5x) + 
2
7
2
×
?
?
?
?
?
? = 2
3
2
2 14 ×
?
?
?
?
?
?
-× x ()
or 10x + 7 = 3x – 28
or 10x – 3x + 7 = – 28 (transposing 3x to LHS)
or 7x + 7 = – 28
or 7x = – 28 – 7
or 7x = – 35
or x =
35
7
-
or x = – 5 (solution)
EXERCISE 2.1
Solve the following equations and check your results.
1. 3x = 2x + 18 2. 5t – 3 = 3t – 5 3. 5x + 9 = 5 + 3x
4. 4z + 3 = 6 + 2z 5. 2x – 1 = 14 – x 6. 8x + 4 = 3 (x – 1) + 7
7. x = 
4
5
 (x + 10) 8.
2
3
x
 + 1 = 
7
3
15
x
+
9. 2y + 
5
3
 = 
26
3
y -
10. 3m = 5 m – 
8
5
2.3  Reducing Equations to Simpler Form
Example 16: Solve 
61 3
1
36
xx +-
+=
Solution: Multiplying both sides of the equation by 6,
6 (6 1)
61
3
x+
+×
 =
6( 3)
6
x-
or 2 (6x + 1) + 6 = x – 3
or 12x + 2 + 6 = x – 3 (opening the brackets )
or 12x + 8 = x – 3
or 12x – x + 8 = – 3
or 11x + 8 = – 3
or 11x = –3 – 8
or 11x = –11
or x = – 1 (required solution)
Reprint 2024-25
??? ? ? ? ????? ????
Check: LHS =
6( 1) 1 6 1
11
33
- + -+
+= +
 = 
5 35 32
33 3 3
- -+ -
+= =
RHS =
( 1) 3 4 2
6 63
-- - -
==
LHS = RHS. (as required)
Example 17: Solve  5x – 2 (2x – 7)  =  2 (3x – 1) + 
7
2
Solution:  Let us open the brackets,
LHS = 5x – 4x + 14  = x + 14
RHS = 6x – 2 + 
7
2
 =
47 3
66
22 2
xx -+ = +
The equation is x + 14 =6x + 
3
2
or 14 = 6x – x + 
3
2
or 14 = 5x + 
3
2
or 14 – 
3
2
 = 5x (transposing 
3
2
)
or
28 3
2
-
 = 5x
or
25
2
 = 5x
or x =
25 1 5 5 5
2 52 52
×
×= =
×
Therefore, required solution is x = 
5
2
.
Check: LHS = 
=
25 25 25
2(5 7) 2( 2) 4
2 22
- - = - -= +
 = 
25 8 33
22
+
=
RHS =
=
26 7 33
22
+
= = LHS.   (as required)
Did you observe how we
simplified the form of the given
equation? Here, we had to
multiply both sides of the
equation by the LCM of the
denominators of the terms in the
expressions of the equation.
Note, in this example we
brought the equation to a
simpler form by opening
brackets and combining like
terms on both sides of the
equation.
Reprint 2024-25
Page 5


? ???????? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?????????????? ? ? ? ?
2.1  Introduction
In the earlier classes, you have come across several algebraic expressions and equations.
Some examples of expressions we have so far worked with are:
5x, 2x – 3, 3x + y, 2xy + 5, xyz + x + y + z, x
2
 + 1, y + y
2
Some examples of equations are: 5x = 25, 2x – 3 = 9, 
5 37
2 , 6 10 2
22
yz + = + =-
You would remember that equations use the equality (=) sign; it is missing in expressions.
Of these given expressions, many have more than one variable. For example, 2 xy + 5
has two variables. We however, restrict to expressions with only one variable when we
form equations. Moreover, the expressions we use to form equations are linear . This means
that the highest power of the variable appearing in the expression is 1.
These are linear expressions:
2x, 2x + 1, 3y – 7, 12 – 5z, 
5
( – 4) 10
4
x +
These are not linear expressions:
x
2
 + 1, y + y
2
, 1 + z + z
2
 + z
3
(since highest power of variable > 1)
Here we will deal with equations with linear expressions in one variable only. Such
equations are known as linear equations in one variable. The simple equations which
you studied in the earlier classes were all of this type.
Let us briefly revise what we know:
(a) An algebraic equation is an equality
involving variables. It  has an equality sign.
The expression on the left of the equality sign
is the Left Hand Side (LHS). The expression
on the right of the equality sign is the Right
Hand Side (RHS).
? ? ? ? ? ? ?
?
??????? ?????????? ??
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
2x – 3 = 7
2x – 3 = LHS
7 = RHS
Reprint 2024-25
??? ? ? ? ????? ????
(b) In an equation the values of
the expressions on the LHS
and RHS are equal. This
happens to be true only for
certain values of the variable.
These values are the
solutions of the equation.
(c) How to find the solution of an equation?
We assume that the two sides of the equation are balanced.
We perform the same mathematical operations on both
sides of the equation, so that the balance is not disturbed.
A few such steps give the solution.
2.2 Solving Equations having the Variable on
both Sides
An equation is the equality of the values of two expressions. In the equation 2x – 3 = 7,
the two expressions are  2x – 3 and 7.  In most examples that we have come across so
far, the RHS is just a number.  But this need not always be so; both sides could have
expressions with variables.  For example, the equation  2x – 3 = x + 2 has expressions
with a variable on both sides; the expression on the LHS is (2x – 3) and the expression
on the RHS is (x + 2).
• We now discuss how to solve such equations which have expressions with the variable
on both sides.
Example 1: Solve 2x – 3 = x + 2
Solution: We have
2x = x + 2 + 3
or 2x = x + 5
or 2x – x = x + 5 – x (subtracting x from both sides)
or x = 5 (solution)
Here we subtracted from both sides of the equation, not a number (constant), but a
term involving the variable. We can do this as variables are also numbers. Also, note that
subtracting x from both sides amounts to transposing x to LHS.
Example 2: Solve 5x + 
73
14
22
x =-
Solution: Multiply both sides of the equation by 2. We get
25
7
2
×+
?
?
?
?
?
?
x
 =
2
3
2
14 ×-
?
?
?
?
?
?
x
x = 5 is the solution of the equation
2x – 3 = 7. For  x = 5,
LHS = 2 × 5 – 3 = 7 = RHS
On the other hand x = 10 is not a solution of the
equation. For x = 10,  LHS = 2 × 10 –3 = 17.
This is not equal to the RHS
Reprint 2024-25
? ???????? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?????????????? ? ? ? ?
Why 6? Because it is the
smallest multiple (or LCM)
of the given denominators.
(2 × 5x) + 
2
7
2
×
?
?
?
?
?
? = 2
3
2
2 14 ×
?
?
?
?
?
?
-× x ()
or 10x + 7 = 3x – 28
or 10x – 3x + 7 = – 28 (transposing 3x to LHS)
or 7x + 7 = – 28
or 7x = – 28 – 7
or 7x = – 35
or x =
35
7
-
or x = – 5 (solution)
EXERCISE 2.1
Solve the following equations and check your results.
1. 3x = 2x + 18 2. 5t – 3 = 3t – 5 3. 5x + 9 = 5 + 3x
4. 4z + 3 = 6 + 2z 5. 2x – 1 = 14 – x 6. 8x + 4 = 3 (x – 1) + 7
7. x = 
4
5
 (x + 10) 8.
2
3
x
 + 1 = 
7
3
15
x
+
9. 2y + 
5
3
 = 
26
3
y -
10. 3m = 5 m – 
8
5
2.3  Reducing Equations to Simpler Form
Example 16: Solve 
61 3
1
36
xx +-
+=
Solution: Multiplying both sides of the equation by 6,
6 (6 1)
61
3
x+
+×
 =
6( 3)
6
x-
or 2 (6x + 1) + 6 = x – 3
or 12x + 2 + 6 = x – 3 (opening the brackets )
or 12x + 8 = x – 3
or 12x – x + 8 = – 3
or 11x + 8 = – 3
or 11x = –3 – 8
or 11x = –11
or x = – 1 (required solution)
Reprint 2024-25
??? ? ? ? ????? ????
Check: LHS =
6( 1) 1 6 1
11
33
- + -+
+= +
 = 
5 35 32
33 3 3
- -+ -
+= =
RHS =
( 1) 3 4 2
6 63
-- - -
==
LHS = RHS. (as required)
Example 17: Solve  5x – 2 (2x – 7)  =  2 (3x – 1) + 
7
2
Solution:  Let us open the brackets,
LHS = 5x – 4x + 14  = x + 14
RHS = 6x – 2 + 
7
2
 =
47 3
66
22 2
xx -+ = +
The equation is x + 14 =6x + 
3
2
or 14 = 6x – x + 
3
2
or 14 = 5x + 
3
2
or 14 – 
3
2
 = 5x (transposing 
3
2
)
or
28 3
2
-
 = 5x
or
25
2
 = 5x
or x =
25 1 5 5 5
2 52 52
×
×= =
×
Therefore, required solution is x = 
5
2
.
Check: LHS = 
=
25 25 25
2(5 7) 2( 2) 4
2 22
- - = - -= +
 = 
25 8 33
22
+
=
RHS =
=
26 7 33
22
+
= = LHS.   (as required)
Did you observe how we
simplified the form of the given
equation? Here, we had to
multiply both sides of the
equation by the LCM of the
denominators of the terms in the
expressions of the equation.
Note, in this example we
brought the equation to a
simpler form by opening
brackets and combining like
terms on both sides of the
equation.
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WHAT HAVE WE DISCUSSED?
1. An algebraic equation is an equality involving variables. It says that the value of the expression on
one side of the equality sign is equal to the value of the expression on the other side.
2. The equations we study in Classes VI, VII and VIII are linear equations in one variable. In such
equations, the expressions which form the equation contain only one variable. Further, the equations
are linear, i.e., the highest power of the variable appearing in the equation is 1.
3. An equation may have linear expressions on both sides. Equations that we studied in Classes VI
and VII had just a number on one side of the equation.
4. Just as numbers, variables can, also, be transposed from one side of the equation to the other .
5. Occasionally, the expressions forming equations have to be simplified before we can solve them
by usual methods. Some equations may not even be linear to begin with, but they can be brought
to a linear form by multiplying both sides of the equation by a suitable expression.
6. The utility of linear equations is in their diverse applications; different problems on numbers, ages,
perimeters, combination of currency notes, and so on can be solved using linear equations.
EXERCISE 2.2
Solve the following linear equations.
1.
11
25 3 4
xx
-= +
2.
35
21
24 6
nn n
-+=
3.
8 17 5
7
362
xx
x+- = -
4.
53
35
xx --
=
5.
32 23 2
4 33
tt
t
-+
- =-
6.
12
1
23
mm
m
--
- =-
Simplify and solve the following linear equations.
7. 3(t – 3) = 5(2t + 1) 8. 15(y – 4) –2(y – 9) + 5(y + 6) = 0
9. 3(5z – 7) – 2(9z – 11) = 4(8z – 13) – 17
10. 0.25(4f – 3) = 0.05(10f – 9)
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FAQs on NCERT Textbook: Linear Equations in One Variable

1. How do you solve linear equations with variables on both sides?
Ans. Collect all variable terms on one side and constants on the other using inverse operations. Subtract or add the same value to both sides to isolate the variable, then divide by the coefficient. For example, in 3x + 5 = x + 13, subtract x from both sides to get 2x + 5 = 13, then solve for x equals 4. This balancing method keeps equations equivalent throughout.
2. What's the difference between an equation and an expression in Class 8 maths?
Ans. An equation contains an equals sign and shows two quantities are balanced; an expression is a mathematical phrase without an equals sign. Linear equations in one variable like 2x + 3 = 7 can be solved for a specific value, whereas 2x + 3 is simply an expression. Equations model real situations where you find unknown values; expressions just represent quantities.
3. Why do we get different answers when solving the same equation different ways?
Ans. You shouldn't get different answers if solving correctly. The transposition method and systematic balancing method both yield identical solutions for linear equations in one variable. Errors occur from arithmetic mistakes or incorrectly applying inverse operations. Always verify your answer by substituting back into the original equation-both sides must equal each other if solved correctly.
4. How do you handle fractions and decimals in linear equations?
Ans. Multiply the entire equation by the least common multiple of denominators to eliminate fractions, converting decimals to fractions first if needed. For instance, in (x/2) + 3 = 7, multiply both sides by 2 to get x + 6 = 14. This simplification reduces complex linear equations in one variable to simpler forms, making calculations straightforward and reducing computational errors.
5. What are the most common mistakes students make when solving linear equations for exams?
Ans. Common errors include forgetting to apply operations to both sides equally, making sign mistakes when transposing terms, and arithmetic miscalculations. Students often skip verification steps, missing errors immediately. Not simplifying properly before solving and mishandling negative coefficients cause frequent mistakes in CBSE Class 8 assessments. Always check solutions by substituting values back into original equations before finalising answers.
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