What is a Linear Equation?
How To Solve A Linear Equation
Applications of Linear Equations
What is a Linear Equation?
A linear equation is an equation of the form ax+b=c, where a,b, and c are coefficients and x is a single, unknown variable. A linear equation has two essential elements: 1) the expression is linear, meaning that the highest degree of the unknown is one and 2) the expression must be equal to zero. Linear equations are used to describe many real-world phenomena, including the behavior of economies and other natural phenomena.
Linear equations are generally the simplest type of equations to solve because there is only one unknown. Furthermore, if a linear equation has two unknowns, it can only have one solution.
Unlike non-linear equations, the graphs of some linear equations are straight lines. This makes linear equations easier to solve than non-linear equations.
How to Solve a Linear Equation
The first step of solving a linear equation is to determine which side of the equation is the “unknown” side. The unknown side is the side of the equation that contains the unknown variable.
Once the unknown side is determined, the next step is to isolate the unknown variable. This can be done by combining like terms on one side of the equation, and by using operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Once the unknown is isolated, the final step is to solve for the value of the unknown variable. This is done by substituting the value of the constants (known numbers) from the original equation into the isolated equation.
Applications of Linear Equations
Linear equations have a wide range of applications in the real world. They can be used to describe the behavior of populations over time, the growth of economies, climate patterns, and a range of natural phenomena.
Linear equations are also a useful tool in fields such as engineering and physics. They are used to model the motion of objects, and to find the best solutions to complex problems.
Linear equations are also widely used in finance. They are used to calculate the present and future value of investments, to determine the most efficient allocation of assets, and to value complex derivatives.