Linear equations are equations of the first order. The linear equations are defined for lines in the coordinate system. When the equation has a homogeneous variable of degree 1 (i.e. only one variable), then it is known as a linear equation in one variable. A linear equation can have more than one variable. If the linear equation has two variables, then it is called linear equations in two variables and so on. Some of the examples of linear equations are 2x – 3 = 0, 2y = 8, m + 1 = 0, x/2 = 3, x + y = 2, 3x – y + z = 3. In this article, we are going to discuss the definition of linear equations, standard form for linear equation in one variable, two variables, three variables and their examples with complete explanation.

Table of Contents:

• Definition
• Forms of Linear Equation
  • Standard Form
  • Slope-Intercept Form
  • Point Slope Form
• How to Solve Linear Equations
  • Solution of Linear Equation in One variable
  • Solution of Linear Equation in Two variables
  • Solution of Linear Equations in Three Variables
• Solving Linear Equations
• Practice Questions
• FAQs

Linear Equation Definition

An equation is a mathematical statement, which has an equal sign (=) between the algebraic expression. Linear equations are the equations of degree 1. It is the equation for the straight line. The solutions of linear equations will generate values, which when substituted for the unknown values, make the equation true. In the case of one variable, there is only one solution. For example, the equation x + 2 = 0 has only one solution as x = -2. But in the case of the two-variable linear equation, the solutions are calculated as the Cartesian coordinates of a point of the Euclidean plane.

Below are some examples of linear equations in one variable, two variables and three variables:

Forms of Linear Equation

The three forms of linear equations are

• Standard Form
• Slope Intercept Form
• Point Slope Form

Now, let us discuss these three major forms of linear equations in detail.

Standard Form of Linear Equation

Linear equations are a combination of constants and variables. The standard form of a linear equation in one variable is represented as

The standard form of a linear equation in two variables is represented as

The standard form of a linear equation in three variables is represented as

Slope Intercept Form

The most common form of linear equations is in slope-intercept form, which is represented as;

y = mx + b

Where,

m is the slope of the line,

b is the y-intercept 

x and y are the coordinates of the x-axis and y-axis, respectively.

For example, y = 3x + 7:

slope, m = 3 and intercept = 7

If a straight line is parallel to the x-axis, then the x-coordinate will be equal to zero. Therefore,

y=b

If the line is parallel to the y-axis then the y-coordinate will be zero.

mx+b = 0

x=-b/m

Slope: The slope of the line is equal to the ratio of the change in y-coordinates to the change in x-coordinates. It  can be evaluated by:

m = (y₂-y₁)/(x₂-x₁)

So basically the slope shows the rise of line in the plane along with the distance covered in the x-axis. The slope of the line is also called a gradient.

Point Slope Form

In this form of linear equation, a straight line equation is formed by considering the points in the x-y plane, such that:

y – y₁ = m(x – x₁ )

where (x₁, y₁) are the coordinates of the point.

We can also express it as:

y = mx + y₁ – mx₁

Summary:

There are different forms to write linear equations. Some of them are:

Where m = slope of a line; (a, b) intercept of x-axis and y-axis.

Also, read:

How to Solve Linear Equations?

By now you have got an idea of linear equations and their different forms. Now let us learn how to solve linear equations or line equations in one variable, in two variables and in three variables with examples. Solving these equations with step by step procedures are given here.

Solution of Linear Equations in One Variable

Both sides of the equation are supposed to be balanced for solving a linear equation. The equality sign denotes that the expressions on either side of the ‘equal to’ sign are equal. Since the equation is balanced, for solving it, certain mathematical operations are performed on both sides of the equation in a manner that does not affect the balance of the equation. Here is the example related to the linear equation in one variable.

Example: Solve (2x – 10)/2 = 3(x – 1)

Step 1: Clear the fraction

x – 5 = 3(x – 1)

Step 2: Simplify Both sides equations

 x – 5 = 3x – 3

x = 3x + 2

Step 3: Isolate x

x – 3x = 2

-2x = 2
x = -1

Solution of Linear Equations in Two Variables

To solve linear equations in 2 variables, there are different methods. Following are some of them:

1. Method of substitution
2. Cross multiplication method
3. Method of elimination

We must choose a set of 2 equations to find the values of 2 variables. Such as ax + by + c = 0 and dx + ey + f = 0, also called a system of equations with two variables, where x and y are two variables and a, b, c, d, e, f are constants, and a, b, d and e are not zero. Else, the single equation has an infinite number of solutions.

Solution of Linear Equations in Three Variables

To solve linear equations in 3 variables, we need a set of 3 equations as given below to find the values of unknowns. Matrix method is one of the popular methods to solve system of linear equations with 3 variables.

a₁x + b₁ y + c₁z + d₁ = 0

a₂x + b₂ y + c₂ z + d₂ = 0 and

a₃x + b₃ y + c₃ z + d₃ = 0
Also check: Solve The Linear Equation In Two Or Three Variables

Solving Linear Equations

Example 1: 

Solve x  = 12(x +2)

Solution: 

x  = 12(x  + 2)

x = 12x + 24

Subtract 24 on both sides of equation

x – 24 = 12x + 24 – 24

x – 24 = 12x

Simplify

11x  = -24

Isolate x:

x = -24/11.

Example 2:

Solve x – y = 12 and 2x + y = 22

Solution: 

Name the equations

x – y = 12 …(1)

2x + y = 22 …(2)

Isolate Equation (1) for x,

x = y + 12

Substitute x =y + 12 in equation (2)

2(y+12) + y = 22

3y + 24 = 22

3y = -2

or y = -2/3

Substitute the value of y in x = y + 12

x = y + 12

x = -2/3 + 12

x = 34/3

Answer: x = 34/3 and y = -2/3

Practice Questions

Solve the following linear equations:

1. 5y-11=3y+9
2. 3x + 4 = 7 – 2x
3. 9 – 2(y – 5) = y + 10
4. 5(x – 1) = 3(2x – 5) – (1 – 3x)
5. 2(y – 1) – 6y = 10 – 2(y – 4)
6. y/3 – (y – 2)/2 = 7/3
7. (y – 3)/4 + (y – 1)/5 – (y – 2)/3 = 1
8. (3x – 2)/3 + (2x + 3)/3 = (x + 7)/6
9. (8y – 5)/(7y + 1) = -4/5
10. (5 – 7y)/(2 + 4y) = -8/7

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