SIMPLE EQUATIONS 3

3.0 Introduction
You have already come across simple equations like
4x = 44, 2m = 10 and their solutions in Class VI. You have
seen how these equations help us in solving puzzles and daily
life problems. Let us review what we have already learnt
about simple equations and their solutions through the
following exercise.

Exercise - 1
1. Write L.H.S and R.H.S of the following simple equations.
(i) 2x = 10 (ii) 2x–3 = 9
(iii) 4z + 1 = 8 (iv) 5p + 3 = 2p + 9
(v) 14 = 27 – y (vi) 2a – 3 = 5
(vii) 7m = 14 (viii) 8=q+5
2. Solve the following equations by trial and error method.
(i) 2+y=7 (ii) a–2=6
(iii) 5m = 15 (iv) 2n = 14

3.1 Equation - Weighing balance

You have seen in class VI that an equation is compared with a
weighing balance with equal weights on both sides.
What will happen if the left pan of a weighing balance holds 5
kg and the right pan holds 2 kg?
What will happen if the left pan of a weighing balance holds 3
kg and the right pan holds 7 kg?
What will happen if the left pan of a weighing balance holds 3 kg and the right pan holds 3 kg?
A weighing balance needs to have equal weights on both sides to be perfectly balanced.

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 The same principles will hold in an equality.
Consider the equality 12–2 = 6 + 4
Here-
LHS = 12 – 2 = 10 and
RHS = 6 + 4 = 10
Since both sides are equal, the equality holds.
What will happen if we add 3 on both sides of an equation? Will the values of both sides remain
equal? Will the values be equal if 10 is added? Try with some other number of your choice.
What will happen if we subtract 5 from both sides of the equation? Will both sides remain equal?
Will the values be equal if 7 is subtracted? Try with some other numbers of your choice.
What will happen if we multiply both sides by 6? Will both sides remain equal? Will they be equal
if 8 multiplied by 8? Try with some other numbers of your choice.
What will happen if we divide both sides of the equation by 5? Will both sides remain equal? Will
they be equal if both sides are divided by 2?
You will find that answer is ‘yes’ in all cases. If the same number is added or subtracted on both
sides or if both sides of the equality are either multiplied or divided by same number ; the equality
remains unchanged. This principle of equality is going to help in solving equations ahead.
3.2 Solving equations
You have already learnt how to solve equations using the trial and error method. Now we will use
the above principles of equality to solve equations in a much lesser time.
To solve equations we first need to separate the numerical terms from the terms containing
variables/unknowns by taking them on the two different sides of the equality and then use the
principles of equality.
Let us study the examples given below.
Example 1 : Solve x + 3 = 7
Given equation is
Solution : x + 3 = 7 ..................... (1)
The L.H.S of the equation is x + 3 .
Total value of L.H.S. is 3 more than x
To find the value of 'x' we have to remove 3 from the LHS. Thus, we need to
subtract 3 from the LHS. If 3 is subtracted from LHS it should also be subtracted
from RHS, to balance the equality.
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 We have, x+3=7
x+3–3=7–3
x = 7 – 3 ........................ (2)
x=4 From (1) and (2) it is clear that removing ‘+3’from
LHS is equivalent to 'subtracting 3' from the RHS.
Thus, x = 4. That means '+3' on LHS transforms as '–3' to RHS.

Check: let us substitute 4 for x in the given equation and find whether LHS = RHS.
LHS = x + 3
= 4+3 (substituting x = 4)
=7
RHS = 7
LHS = RHS.
Let us also understand the above solution with a weighing balance:

x+3 7 x+3–3 7–3 x 4

Example 2 : Solve y – 7 = 9
Solution : y – 7 = 9 ..................... (1)
Here the L.H.S of the equation is y – 7
So to get the value of ‘y’ we have to add 7 on both sides of the equation.
Therefore, y–7+7=9+7
From (1) and (2) it is clear that '–7'on
y = 9 + 7 ..................... (2) LHS transforms to RHS as '+7'.

y = 16
Thus, y = 16.
Check : Substitute '16' for ‘y’ and check whether LHS = RHS.

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 Example 3 : Solve 5x = –30
Solution : 5x = –30 ..................... (1)

5x 30
! (dividing both sides by 5)
5 5
From (1) and (2) it is clear that
30
x! ..................... (2) multiplier ‘5’on LHS transforms
5 to RHS as ‘divisor’.
∴x = –6
Check: Substitute x = – 6 and check whether LHS = RHS.

z
Example 4 : Solve ! 3
6

z
Solution : ! 3 ..................... (1)
6

"z#
6 % & ! 6 $ ( 3) (multiplying both sides by 6)
'6(
From (1) and (2) it is clear that
z ! 6 $ ( 3) ..................... (2) divison ‘6’on LHS transforms to
RHS as ‘multipier 6’.
∴ z = –18
Check : Substitute z = –18 and check whether LHS = RHS.
Example 5 : Solve 3x + 5 = 5x – 11
Solution : 3x + 5 = 5x – 11
3x + 5 –5x = 5x – 11 – 5 x (subtracting 5x from both sides)
–2x + 5 = –11
–2x + 5 –5 = –11 – 5 (subtracting '5' from both sides)
–2x = –16

2x 16
! (Dividing both sides by '–2')
2 2
∴x=8
Check : Substituting x=8 in the given equation:
LHS = 3x + 5 = 3 (8) + 5 = 24 + 5 = 29
RHS = 5x – 11 = 5 (8) – 11 = 40 – 11 = 29
) LHS = RHS
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 Thus, in transforming terms from L.H.S. to R.H.S.
‘+ quantity’ becomes ‘– quantity’
‘– quantity’ becomes ‘+ quantity’
‘× quantity’ becomes ÷ quantity
‘÷ quantity’ becomes ‘ × quantity’

Example 6 : Solve 12 = x + 3
Here if 12 is moved from LHS to RHS it becomes –12 and if x+3 is moved from
RHS to LHS it becomes –x – 3.
i.e –x –3 = –12
Multiplying both sides by –1
–1 (–x –3) = –1 (–12)
x + 3 =12
x = 12 –3
∴x=9
Therefore, if both LHS and RHS of an equation are moved (transposed) from one side to
another side, the values of terms remain same.

Exercise - 2

1. Solve the following equations without transposing and check your result.
(i) x+5=9 (ii) y – 12 = –5
(iii) 3x + 4 = 19 (iv) 9z = 81
(v) 3x + 8 = 5x + 2 (vi) 5y + 10 = 4y – 10

2. Solve the following equations by transposing the terms and check your result.
(i) 2+y=7 (ii) 2a – 3 = 5
(iii) 10 - q = 6 (iv) 2t – 5 = 3
(v) 14 = 27 – x (vi) 5 (x+4) = 35
(vii) –3x = 15 (viii) 5x –3 = 3x – 5
(ix) 3y + 4 = 5y – 4 (x) 3 (x – 3) = 5 (2x + 1)

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 3.3 Usage of algebraic equations in solving day to day problems.
Let us look at the following examples:
(i) The total number of boys and girls in a class is 52. If the number of girls is 10 more than
boys, find the number of boys?
(ii) The present age of Ramu's father is three times that of Ramu. After five years the sum of
their ages will be 70 years. Find their present ages.
(iii) A purse contains ` 250 in the denomination of `10 and ` 50. If the number of `10 notes
is one more than that of `50 notes find the number of notes of each denomination.
(iv) Length of a rectangle is 8 m less than twice its breadth. The perimeter of the rectangle is 56
m. Find its length and breadth.
Likes in all the problems given above, we can use simple equations to solve various problems of
day to day life. The following steps can be followed in doing so
Step 1: Read the problem carefully.
Step 2 : Denote the unknown or the quantity to be found with some letters such as x, y, z, u, v, w, p,t.
Step 3: Write the problem in the form of an algebraic equation by making a relation among the
quantities.
Step 4: Solve the equation.
Step 5: Check the solution.
Example 7: Total number of the boys and girls in a class is 52. If the number of girls is 10 more
than that of boys, find the number of boys?
Solution : Let us assume the number of boys to be x.
The number of girls will be x + 10.
The total number of boys and girls = x + (x + 10)
= x + x + 10
= 2x + 10
According to the question, the total number of boys and girls is 52.
Therefore, 2x + 10 = 52
Solving this equation, 2x + 10 = 52
2x = 52 – 10 (transposing 10 from LHS to RHS)
2x = 42
42
x! (transposing 2 from LHS to RHS)
2

∴ x = 21
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 Thus, the number of boys = 21
and the number of girls = 21 + 10 = 31
Check : 21 + 31 = 52 i.e. the total number of boys and girls is 52.
And 31 – 21=10 i.e. the number of girls is 10 more than the number of boys.
Example 8: The present age of Ramu's father is three times that of Ramu. After five years the
sum of their ages would be 70 years. Find their present ages.
Solution : Let Ramu's present age be = x years.
Then the present age of his father be = 3x years.
After 5 years Ramu's age = x+5 years.
His father's age = 3x + 5 years.
Sum of their ages after 5 years is = (x + 5) + (3x + 5) = 4x + 10 years.
According to the problem
Sum of their ages 4x + 10 = 70
4x = 70 – 10
4x = 60

60
x! ! 15
4
Thus, Ramu's present age = 15 years.
So, present age of his father = 3x = 3 × 15 years = 45 years.
Check : 45 is three times of 15 i.e., at present Ramu's father is 3 times that of Ramu,
After 5 years Ramu's age = 15 + 5 = 20 years and his father's age = 45 + 5 = 50 years.
Sum of their ages 20 + 50 = 70 years.

Example 9 : A purse contains `250 in the of denomination of `10 and ` 50. If the number of
`10 notes is one more than that of `50 notes, find the number of notes of each
denomination.

Solution : Let the number of `50 notes =x

Then the total value of `50 notes = 50x
Number of ` 10 notes =x+1

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 Then the total value of ` 10 notes = 10 (x+1)
∴ Total value of money = 50x + 10 (x+1)
= 50x + 10x + 10
=60x + 10
By problem total value of the money that the purse contains is 250
Therefore, 60x + 10 = 250
60x = 250 – 10
60x = 240

240
x!
60

∴x = 4
Thus, the number of `50 notes = 4
Number of `10 notes = 4 + 1 = 5
Check :`10 notes (5) are one more than `50 notes (4).
Value of the money = (50×4) + (10×5)
= 200 + 50
= 250
Example 10: Length of a rectangle is 8 m less than twice its breadth. If the perimeter of the
rectangle is 56 m, find its length and breadth.
Solution : Let the breadth of the rectangle = x m.
Twice the breadth = 2x m.
Therefore, its length = (2x – 8) m. (by problem)
Perimeter of the rectangle = 2 (length + breadth)
Thus, perimeter = 2 (2x – 8 + x) m.
= 2 (3x – 8) m.
= (6x – 16) m.
By problem, the perimeter of the rectangle is 56 m.
Therefore, 6x – 16 = 56

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 6x = 56 + 16
6x = 72

72
x!
6
∴ x = 12
Breadth of the rectangle = 12 m.
Length of the rectangle = 2 × 12 – 8 = 16 m.
Check : Perimeter = 2 (16 + 12) = 2 × 28 = 56 m.

Exercise 3

1 Write the information given in the picture in the form of an equation. Also, find 'x' in the
following figure.
15 cm

x cm 11 cm
2. Write the information given in the picture in the form of an equation. Also, find 'y' in the
following figure. 13 cm

‘y’ cm 8 cm

3. If we add 7 to twice a number, we get 49. Find the number.

4. If we subtract 22 from three times a number, we get 68. Find the number.
5. Find a number which when multiplied by 7 and then reduced by 3 is equal to 53.
6. Sum of two numbers is 95. If one exceeds the other by 3, find the numbers.
7. Sum of three consecutive integers is 24. Find the integers.
8. Find the length and breadth of the rectangle given below if its perimeter is 72m.
5x + 4

x–4

9. Length of a rectangle exceeds its breadth by 4 m. If the perimeter of the rectangle is

84 m, find its length and breadth.
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 10. After 15 years, Hema's age will become four times that of her present age. Find her
present age.
11. A sum of .3000 is to be given in the form of 63 prizes. If the prize money is either .100
or .25. Find the number of prizes of each type.
12. A number is divided into two parts such that one part is 10 more than the other. If the two
parts are in the ratio 5:3, find the number and the two parts.
13 . Suhana said, “multiplying my number by 5 and adding 8 to it gives the
same answer as subtracting my number from 20”.
Find Suhana's numbers.
14. The teacher tells the class that the highest marks obtained by a student in
her class is twice the lowest marks plus 7. The highest mark is 87. What is the lowest
mark?
15. In adjacent figure find the magnitude of each of the three
angles formed?
(Hint: Sum of all angles at a point on a line is 180o)
16. Solve the following riddle:
I am a number
Tell my identity.
Take me two times over
And add a thirty six.
To reach a century

You still need four.

Looking Back
• Simple equations help in solving various problems in daily life.
• For balancing an equation we
(i) add the same number on both the sides or
(ii) subtract the same number form both the sides or
(iii) multiply both sides with the same number or
(iv) divides both the sides by the same number, so that the equality remains
undisturbed.
• An equation remains same if the LHS and the RHS are interchanged.
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