LINEAR EQUATIONS AND WORD PROBLEMS

PREAMBLE: Find a number n such that

1. Six times the number, decreased by 20 is four times the number.
ANSWER: n = 10
(6n – 20 = 4n, 2n = 20, n = 10)
2. The sum of four and twice the number is equal to the sum of the number and twenty four.
ANSWER: n = 20
[4 + 2n = n + 24, n = 20]
3. Three times the difference of twice the number and 20 is 30.
ANSWER: n = 15
[3(2n – 20) = 30, 6n – 60 = 30, 6n = 90, n = 15]
PREAMBLE: Find the sum and the product of the roots of the given quadratic equation:
4. 3x2 + 7x + 5 = 0
ANSWER: sum = -7/3, product = 5/3
5. 5x2 - 3x – 9 = 0
ANSWER: sum = 3/5, product = -9/5
6. 7x2 + 9x – 14 = 0
ANSWER: sum = -9/7, product = -2

1. The product of two consecutive odd numbers is 99. Find the numbers.
ANSWER: 9, 11 [ n(n + 2) = 99, n2 + 2n – 99 = 0, (n + 11)(n – 9) = 0, n = 9]
2. 2The sum of the squares of two consecutive natural numbers is 61. Find the numbers.
ANSWER: 5, 6
[ n2 + (n + 1)2 = 2n2 + 2n + 1 = 61, n2 + n – 30 = 0 (n + 6)(n – 5) = 0, n =
5]
3. The difference of the squares of two consecutive natural numbers is 11. Find the numbers
ANSWER: 5, 6 [(n + 1)2 – n2 = 2n + 1 = 11, 2n = 10, n = 5]
Find the set of values of x for which

1. 4 + 5x > 20 – 11x

ANSWER: {x : x > 1} [4 + 5x > 20 – 11x, hence 16x > 16, and x > 1]

2. 17 – 5x < 9x + 45
 ANSWER: {x : x > -2} [ 17 – 5x < 9x + 45, -14x < 28, 14x > - 28, x > - 2 ]

3. 9x – 17 + 6x – 8 > 20

ANSWER: {x : x < 3} [ 9x – 17 + 6x – 8 < 20, 15x < 45, x < 3]

1. Find the least fraction in the following list of fractions

2/3, 3/ 5, 4/ 7, 5/9, 7/10

ANSWER: 5/9
2. Find the largest fraction in the list of fractions

¾, 4/5, 5/6, 6/7, 7/8

ANSWER: 7/8
3. Which of the following fractions is between 1/3 and 5/14

2/3, ¾, 3/7, 29/84, 10/33

ANSWER: 29/84

4. If x + 2y = 2x, find the ratio x : y

ANSWER: 2: 1 [ x + 2y = 2x, hence 2y = x and x/y = 2/1, thus x : y = 2 : 1 ]

5. If , find the ratio x : y

ANSWER: 4 : 3 [ 3x + 4y = 6x, hence 3x = 4y, and x/y = 4/3, thus x : y = 4 : 3]

6. If 2x – 3y = y, find the ratio y : x

ANSWER: 1 : 2
[ 2x – 3y = y, hence 2x = 4y, and y/x = 2/4 = 1/2, hence y : x = 1 : 2]
PREAMBLE: Find two numbers given that:

1. their sum is twice their difference and the larger number is 6 more than twice the smaller
number
ANSWER: 18 and 6 [a + b = 2(a – b), a = 2b + 6, 2b + 6 + b = 2(2b + 6 – b), b =
6 , a = 18]
2. their sum is 2 less 7 times their difference and the larger number exceeds the smaller one
by six
ANSWER: 23 and 17 [a + b = 7(a – b) – 2, a = b + 6, 2b + 6 = 7(6) – 2 = 40, b =
17, a = 23]

3. their sum is 9 times their difference and twice the smaller number exceeds the larger
number by 21.
1. ANSWER Solve the linear equation 3(x – 2) – 5(1 – 2x) = 15.
ANSWER: x = 2 [13x – 11 = 15, 13x = 26, x = 2]
: 35 and 28 [a + b = 9(a – b), 2b – a = 21, a = 2b – 21, 3b – 21 = 9(b – 21), b = 28, a
= 35]
1. Solve the simultaneous equations x - 2y = 1, 3x + y = 10.
ANSWER: x = 3, y = 1
[x = 2y + 1, 3(2y + 1) + y = 10, 7y = 7, y = 1, x = 2 + 1 = 3]

1. z varies jointly as x and y, and z = √3 when x = √2 and y = √8. Find z when x = √6 and y
=8
ANSWER: z = 6√2 [z = kxy, k = √3/(√2√8)=√3/4, z = ¼(√3)(√6)8 = 6√2 ]

2. z varies as x and inversely as y, and z = 5 when x = 2 and y = 3. Find z when x = 6 and y

= 5.
ANSWER: z = 9 [z = kx/y, k = 5(3/2) = 15/2, z = (15/2)(6/5) = 9 ]

3. z varies as x and inversely as y2 and z = 10 when x = 5 and y = 2. Find z when x = 2 and y

= 4.
ANSWER: z = 1 [ z = kx/y2, k = 10 x 4/5 = 8, z = 8(2)/16 = 1 ]

4. What is a thermoplastic material?

PREAMBLE: Find two integers x and y such that their product is a maximum given that:

1. x + y = 110 [y = 110 – x, P = x(110 – x) = 110x – x2, dP/dx = 110 – 2x = 0, x =

55, y = 55]
ANSWER: x = 55, y = 55

2. y + 2x = 24 [ y = 24 – 2x, P = xy = x(24 – 2x), dP/dx = 24 – 4x = 0, x = 6, y = 24

– 2(6) = 12]
ANSWER: x = 6, y = 12
 3. y + 3x = 42 [y = 42 – 3x, P = xy = x(42 – 3x) , dP/dx = 42 – 6x = 0, x = 7, y = 42
– 3(7) = 21]
ANSWER: x = 7 and y = 21
1. Solve the quadratic inequality (x – 3)(x + 2) < 0.
ANSWER: {x : -2 < x < 3}
: Give as an algebraic expression
1. twenty less than the product of a number and two,
ANSWER: 2x – 20
2. one half subtracted from the quotient of a and b,
ANSWER: a/b – ½
3. The difference of three times a number and 4.
ANSWER: 3x – 4
Solve the simultaneous equations

1 2x + y = 18, and x – 2y = -1
ANSWER: x = 7, y = 4 [4x + 2y + x – 2y = 36 – 1, 5x = 35, x = 7 and y = 18 –
14 = 4]

2 x – 2y = 5, and 3x + y = 8
ANSWER: x = 3, y = -1 [x – 2y + 6x + 2y = 5 + 16, 7x = 21, x = 3 and y = 8 – 9
= -1]

3 7x + 3y = 5, and 5x – y = 2
ANSWER: x = ½, y = ½ [ 7x + 3y + 15x – 3y = 5 + 6, 22x = 11, x = ½ , y = 5/2 –
2 = 1/2 ]

1 Use parenthesis such that the equation is correct: 17 – 10 - 2 ÷ 4 = 15

ANSWER: 17 – (10 – 2) ÷ 4 = 15 [ 17 – 8 ÷ 4 = 17 – 2 = 15]

1 Solve the linear equation for y; 2x + 3y = 1

ANSWER: y = (1 – 2x)/3 or y = 1/3 - 2x/3
Solve the absolute value equation

1. | 2x – 5 | = 7
ANSWER: x = 6, or x = -1 [ 2x – 5 = 7or 2x – 5 = - 7, 2x = 12 or 2x = -
2, x = 6 or x = - 1]

2. | 3x + 2 | = 5
ANSWER: x = 1, or x = -7/3 [ 3x + 2 = 5, or 3x + 2 = -5, 3x = 3 or 3x = -7,
x = 1 or x = -7/3 ]
3. | 3x + 9 | = 12
ANSWER: x = 1, or x = -7 [ 3x + 9 = 12 or 3x + 9 = -12, 3x = 3 or 3x = -21,
x = 1 or x = -7 ]

Solve the simultaneous equations:

1. 2x - 3y = 12, 3x + 2y = 5
ANSWER: x = 3, y = -2 [ 4x – 6y = 24, 9x + 6y = 15, hence 13x = 39, x = 3
and y = -2 ]

2. 5x – 7y = 12, 3x + 5y = - 2
ANSWER: x = 1, y = -1 [25x – 35y = 60, 21x + 35y = - 14, 46x = 46, x = 1,
and y = -1 ]

3. 3x + y = 11, 2x – 3y = 22
ANSWER: x = 5, y = -4 [ 9x + 3y = 33, 2x – 3y = 22, 11x = 55, x = 5 and y
= 11- 15 = -4 ]

Solve the equation for x

1

[Let u  x , u2 – 5u + 6 = 0, (u – 3)(u – 2) = 0, u = 3, 2, x = 33,

3
1.
23, x = 27, 8]
ANSWER: x = 27, 8

2. x – 4x1/2 + 3 =0 [ let u = x1/2, u2 – 4u – 3=(u – 1)(u – 3) = 0, u = 3, 1 x = 32,

12 or x = 9, 1]
ANSWER: x = 9, 1

2 1

3. x  3 x  10 0
3 3
[ let u = x2/3, u2 + 3u – 10 = 0, (u + 5)(u – 2) = 0, u = -5, 2, x =
(-5)3, 23 ]
ANSWER: x = -125, 8

Solve the equation: x – 0.05x = 19

ANSWER: x = 20 [ 0.95x = 19, x = 20]
Solve for x given that

1 x + y = 4 and x2 - y = 8
ANSWER: x = 3, -4 [ x2 + x = 12, x2 + x – 12 = 0, (x + 4)(x – 3) = 0, x = 3, -4]

2 2x – y = 7 and x2 + y = 8
ANSWER: x = -5, 3 [ x2 + 2x – 15 = 0, (x + 5)(x - 3) = 0, x = -5, 3]

3 3x + y = 14, x2 – y = 14
ANSWER: x = -7, 4 [ x2 + 3x = 28, x2 + 3x – 28 = 0, (x + 7)(x – 4) = 0, x = -7, 4]
1 Find a number such that 55 plus the square of the number is 16 times the number
ANSWER: 11, 5 [x2 + 55 = 16x, x2 – 16x + 55 = 0, (x - 11)(x - 5) = 0, x = 11, 5]

2 One natural number is four times another. The product of the two numbers is 100. Find the
two numbers.
ANSWER: 5, 20 [ b = 4a, ab = 4a2 = 100, a = 5, b = 20]

3 The difference of two numbers is 15 and the difference of their squares is 150. Find the
sum of the numbers.
ANSWR: 10 [a – b = 15, a2 – b2 = 150, a + b = (a2 – b2)/(a – b) = 150/15 = 10]
1 If A(x + 2) + B(x – 3) = x + 7, find A and B
ANSWER: A = 2, B = -1 [for x = 3, A(5) = 3 + 7, A = 2, for x = -2, -5B = -2 + 7 = 5, B = -
1]
PREAMBLE: Solve for x from the linear equation.

1. (x – 4)/2 – (x – 6)/3 = 7
ANSWER: x = 42 [3(x – 4) – 2(x – 6) = 42, x – 12 + 12 = 42, x = 42]

2. (x – 2)/5 –(x + 1)/3 = 3

ANSWER: x = -28 [3(x – 2) – 5(x + 1) = 45, -2x - 11 = 45, 2x = - 56, x = -
28]

3. (x - 5)/3 + (x + 5)/2 = 5
ANSWER: x = 5 [ 2(x – 5) + 3(x + 5) = 30, 5x – 10 + 15 = 30, 5x = 25, x =
5]

Preamble to both schools

Find the sum and the product of the roots of the quadratic equation

1. -2x2 + 5x - 4 = 0
ANSWER: Sum = 5/2 or 2.5, product = 2
SOLUTION: Sum –b/a =-5/-2 =5/2, product = c/a = -4/-2 = 2
1 2 3 1
x − x− =0
2. 2 4 4
ANSWER: Sum = 3/2 or 1.5, product = -½
SOLUTION: 2x2 - 3x – 1 = 0 [clear fractions by multiplying through by 4]
 Sum = -b/a = 3/2, product = -½

Solve the equation for x

1 a/b = x/c + d
ANSWER: x = c(a – bd)/b [x/c = a/b - d = (a – bd)/b, x = (ac – bcd)/b]

2 2/x = 3/a + 4/b

ANSWER: x = 2ab/(3b + 4a) [ 2/x = (3b + 4a)/ab, x = 2ab/(3b + 4a)]

3 8/a = 6/x – 4/b

ANSWER : x = 3ab/(4b + 2a) [6/x = 8/a + 4/b = (8b + 4a)/ab, x = 6ab/(8b + 4a) = 3ab/(4b
+ 2a)]

1 Solve the equation for x ; √(x – 3)/(x – 3) = (x – 5)/√(x – 3)

ANSWER: x = 6 [(x – 3)/(x – 3) = x – 5, x – 5 = 1, x = 6]
Seven less than twice a number is 20 more than five times the number. Find the number.
ANSWER: -9
[ 2x – 7 = 5x + 20, 3x = -27, x = -9]

1 Find two numbers whose sum is 100 and whose product is a maximum
ANSWER: 50 and 50
[x + y = 100, P = xy = x(100 – x) = 100x – x2, dP/dx = 100 – 2x = 0 and x = 50 and y = 50]
2 Find two positive numbers whose product is 100 and whose sum is a minimum.
ANSWER: 10 and 10
[xy = 100, S = x + y = x + 100/x, dS/dx = 1 – 100/x2, x =10 and y = 100/10 = 10]

3 Find two numbers whose difference is 100 and whose product is a minimum.
ANSWER: 50 and -50
[x – y = 100, P = xy = x(x – 100), dP/dx = 2x – 100, x = 50 and y = -100 + 50 = -50]

PREAMBLE: Solve the quadratic equation

1. x2 – 3x – 28 = 0

ANSWER: x = 7, -4 [x2 – 3x – 28 = x(x - 7) + 4(x - 7) = 0, (x – 7)(x + 4) = 0, x = 7,

-4]
2. x2 + 4x = 0

ANSWER: x = 0, -4 [x(x + 4) = 0, x = 0, -4]

3. x2 + 4x – 12 = 0

ANSWER: x = 2, -6 [x2 + 4x – 12 = x(x + 6) -2(x + 6), (x - 2)(x + 6) = 0, x = 2, -6]

3 Find three consecutive integers whose sum is 12 less than 4 times the first integer.
ANSWER: 15, 16, 17
[ n – 1, n, n + 1, 3n = 4(n – 1) – 12, 0 = n – 12 – 4, n = 16, numbers are 15, 16 , 17]

Solve the proportion

1 5/(x + 4) = 3/(x – 2)
ANSWER: x = 11
[5(x - 2) = 3(x + 4), 2x = 12 + 10 = 22, x = 11]

2 3/(4x + 3) = 4/(2x + 5)
ANSWER: x = 3/10
[ 3(2x + 5) = 4(4x + 3), 10x = 15 – 12 = 3, x = 3/10]

3 6/(x – 5) = 6/(5 – x)
ANSWER: NO SOLUTION
[ 6/(x – 5) = - 6/(x – 5), possible only if 6/(x – 5) = 0, ie 6 = 0 which is not possible]
PREAMBLE: Solve the quadratic equation
1. x2 – 3x – 28 = 0

ANSWER: x = 7, -4 [x2 – 3x – 28 = x(x - 7) + 4(x - 7) = 0, (x – 7)(x + 4) = 0, x = 7,

-4]
2. x2 + 4x = 0

ANSWER: x = 0, -4 [x(x + 4) = 0, x = 0, -4]

3. x2 + 4x – 12 = 0

ANSWER: x = 2, -6 [x2 + 4x – 12 = x(x + 6) -2(x + 6), (x - 2)(x + 6) = 0, x = 2, -6]

PREAMBLE: Solve the simultaneous equations

1. 2x + y = 5, 2x – y = 3
ANSWER: x = 2, y = 1 [4x = 8, x = 2, y = 4 – 3 = 1]
2. x + 3y = 1, x – y = 5
ANSWER: x = 4, y = -1 [4y = -4, y = -1, x = 5 – 1 = 4]
3. x + y = 1, x – y = -5
ANSWER: x = -2, y = 3 [2x = -4, x = -2, 2y = 6, y = 3]

PREAMBLE: Give one of the methods for solving a quadratic equation

1. Factorization

2. Completing the square

 3. Use of the quadratic formular

NB : ONE FROM EACH SCHOOL

PREAMBLE: Find the least value of the expression
1. x2 - 4x + 1
ANSWER: -3 [x2 – 4x + 1= (x - 2)2 + 1 – 4 = (x - 2)2 - 3]
2. x2 + 6x + 15
ANSWER: 6 [x2 + 6x + 15 = (x + 3)2 + 15 – 9 = (x + 3)2 + 6]
3. x2 – 10x + 125
ANSWER: 100 [x2 – 10x + 125 = (x - 5)2 + 125 – 25 = (x - 5)2 + 100]
PREAMBLE: Solve the linear equation
1. 3(2 + 3x) - 4(5 – 3x) = 28
ANSWER: x = 2 [(6 - 20) + (9 + 12)x = 28, 21x = 42, x = 2]
2. 3(x + 4) + 2 = 2(4x + 3) - 2
ANSWER: x = 2 [8x – 3x = 12 + 2+ 2 – 6 = 10, 5x = 10, x = 2]
3. 2 + 7x – 4 – 2(3 +x) = 7 – 10x
ANSWER: x = 1 [7x + 10x – 2x = 7 + 6 + 4 – 2, 15x = 15, x = 1]

PREAMBLE: Solve the linear equation

1. x/2 – 2/3 = x/3 + ½
ANSWER: x = 7 [3x – 4 = 2x + 3, x = 4 + 3 = 7]
2. 2x/5 + 3/2 = x/2 – 3/5
ANSWER: x = 21 [4x + 15 = 5x – 6, x = 15 + 6 = 21]
3. 3x/4 + 1/3 = x/2 + 5/6
ANSWER: x = 2 [9x + 4 = 6x + 10, 3x = 6, x = 2]
PREAMBLE: Solve the simultaneous equations for x and y
1. x + y = 1, x – y = 3
ANSWER: x = 2, y = -1 [2x = 4, x = 2, y = 1 – 2 = -1]
2. x + y = 2, x – y = 8
ANSWER: x = 5, y = -3 [2x = 10, x = 5, y = 2 – 5 = -3]
3. x + y = -5, x – y = -1
ANSWER: x = -3, y = -2 [2x = -6, x = -3, y = -5 – (-3) = -2]
PREAMBLE: Solve the equation for x
1. x2 – 2x – 3 = 0
ANSWER: x = 3, - 1 [ x2 – 2x – 3 = (x – 3)(x + 1) = 0, hence x = 3, -1]
2. x2 + 2x – 3 = 0
ANSWER: x = 1, - 3 [x2 + 2x – 3 = (x – 1)(x + 3) = 0, hence x = 1, - 3
3. x2 - 3x – 4 = 0
ANSWER: x = 4, - 1 [x2 – 3x – 4 = (x – 4)(x + 1) = 0, hence x = 4, - 1]
PREAMBLE: Solve the equation for x
1. |2x – 3| = 7 [2x – 3 = 7, or 2x – 3 = -7; 2x = 10, or 2x = -4 x = 5, or
x = -2]
ANSWER: x = 5, or x = -2
2. |3x – 1| = 2 [3x – 1 = 2, or 3x – 1 = -2; 3x = 3 or 3x = -1, x = 1 or x = -1/3]
ANSWER: x = 1, or x = -1/3
3. | 2 – x | = 3, [x - 2 = 3 or x – 2 = -3, x = 5 or x = -1]
ANSWER: x = 5 or x = -1
PREAMBLE: Solve the equation for x.
1. 2x2 – 3x + 1 = 0
ANSWER: x = 1, ½ [(2x2 -2x) –(x – 1) = (x – 1)(2x – 1) = 0, x = 1, ½ ]
2. 3x2 + x – 2 = 0
ANSWER: x = -1, 2/3 [(3x2 + 3x) –(2x + 2) = 3x(x + 1) -2(x + 1) = (3x – 2)(x +
1) = 0, x = -1, 2/3 ]
3. 2x2 – 3x – 5 = 0
ANSWER: x = -1, 5/2 [(2x2 + 2x) –(5x +5) = 2x(x + 1) – 5(x + 1) = (2x – 5)(x +
1) = 0, x = -1, 5/2 ]
PREAMBLE: Find a number n such that;
1. Six less than seven times the number is equal to fifteen.
ANSWER: n = 3 [7n – 6 = 15, 7n = 21, n = 3]
2. Twice the difference of the number and six equals eight.
ANSWER: n = 10 . [ 2(n – 6) = 8, 2n = 20, n = 10]
3. Eight less the product of five and the difference of the number and 4, is thrice the number.
ANSWER: n = 14 [5(n – 4) – 8 = 3n, 2n = 20 + 8, n = 14]
PREAMBLE: Solve the given formular for the specified variable

1. S = (n/2)(a + b) solve for b

ANSWER: b = (2S/n) – a

2. 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 solve for R1

 ANSWER: R1 = RR2/(R2 – R) [1/R1 = 1/R – 1/R2 = (R2 – R)/RR2, R1 = RR2/(R2 –
R)]

3. S = (a – arn)/(1 – r) solve for a

ANSWER: a = S(1 – r)/(1 – rn) [ S(1 – r) = a(1 – rn), a = S(1 – r)/(1 – rn) ]
PREAMBLE: Solve the equation for x:

1. 27x = 9 x – 1
ANSWER: x = -2 [3x = 2(x – 1), x = -2]

2. 8x = 42x - 1
ANSWER: x=2 [3x = 2(2x – 1), 3x = 4x – 2, x = 2]

3. 252x = 125x + 1
ANSWER: x=3 [ 2(2x) = 3(x + 1), 4x = 3x + 3, x = 3]
: Solve the linear equation.

1. (x + 2)/3 – (2x + 1)/5 = 2

ANSWER: x = -23 [5(x + 2) - 3(2x + 1) = 30, -x + 7 = 30, x = - 23

2. (x + 2)/3 + (2x + 1)/5 = 6

ANSWER: x = 7 [5(x + 2) + 3(2x + 1) = 90, 11x + 13 = 90, 11x = 77, x = 7]

3. 5(x + 3) + 4(2x – 3) = 2(2x + 15)

ANSWER: x = 3 [13x + 3 = 4x + 30, 9x = 27, x = 3]

1. Shoes cost GHc60 a pair and boots cost GHc90 a pair. A man spends GHc1350 and buys thrice as
many shoes as boots. How many pairs of each type did he buy?
ANSWER: 15 pairs of shoes and 5 pairs of boots.
[ 60x + 90y = 1350, x = 3y, (180 + 90)y = 1350, 270y = 1350, y = 5 and x = 15]

2. A man had altogether one hundred of five cedi notes and ten cedi notes worth altogether 600
cedis. How many of each note did he have?
ANSWER: 80 of 5 cedi notes and 20 of 10 cedi notes.
[5x + 10y = 600, x + y = 100, y = 100 – x, 5x + 10(100 – x) = 600, 5x = 400 x = 80, y = 20]

3. Roses cost GHc12 a bunch and carnations cost GHc14 a bunch. A trader buys altogether 11
bunches for GHc138. How many of each bunch did he buy?
ANSWER: 8 bunches of roses, 3 bunches of carnations
[12x + 14y = 138, x + y = 11, y = 11 – x, 12x + 14(11 – x) = 138, 2x = 154 -138 = 16, x = 8 , y = 3]
Solve the linear equation:
1. x/3 + x/2 = 5/6

ANSWER: x=1 [2x + 3x = 5, 5x = 5, x = 1]

2. x/4 – 1 = x/5

ANSWER: x = 20 [ 5x – 20 = 4x, x = 20]

3. x/5 – ½ = x/6

ANSWER: x = 15 [ 6x – 15 = 5x, x = 15]