GMAT Math : Solving linear equations with one unknown

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Solving Linear Equations With One Unknown

Solve for .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve for , we need to isolate  on one side of the equation:

Example Question #22 : Linear Equations, One Unknown

Solve the following equation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We start by grouping all of our like terms, so the terms with x are grouped on the left side and the constants are grouped on the right side:

Example Question #21 : Linear Equations, One Unknown

Solve for 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to solve for  in , isolate  on one side of the equation:

Example Question #24 : Linear Equations, One Unknown

Solve for 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to solve for , we need to isolate  on one side of the equation:

Example Question #25 : Linear Equations, One Unknown

Solve for :  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to solve for , isolate  on one side of the equation and simplify:

 

Example Question #26 : Linear Equations, One Unknown

Given  and , find the height of the line's -intercept.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The trick here is recognizing what you are given. In  form,  is equal to the -intercept. All we need to do is find . Find this by recognizing that  means that the point  is on this line. More simply, if we plug in 4 for  and 26 for  (or in other words, ), we can find .

So this:

becomes:

So, .

Example Question #27 : Linear Equations, One Unknown

Solve for 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to solve for , isolate  on one side of the equation and simplify.

First, add 21 to both sides in order to get all constants on one side. 

Then divide by 7 to solve for y.

Example Question #28 : Linear Equations, One Unknown

Solve for :

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to solve the equation, isolate  on one side of the equation.

To do this, first subtract 9 from both sides.

Then multiply both sides by 3 to move the three to the left hand side.

Lastly, divide by 2 on both sides to solve for z.

Example Question #29 : Linear Equations, One Unknown

Solve for 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve for a we need to isolate a on one side of the equation and all other numbers on the other side of the equation.

Inorder to do this we first subtract 8 from both sides.

Now, we divide by -4 to finish isolating a.

Example Question #30 : Linear Equations, One Unknown

Solve for 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

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