Class 7 Mathematics Ch 8 Mastery Guide: Linear Equations in One & Two Variables, Literal Equations, Graphing & Simultaneous Equations (FBISE)
Instructional Guide: Unit 08 Linear Equations
- Define and differentiate between algebraic expressions and linear algebraic equations.
- Solve linear equations in one variable using balance properties of equality, brackets expansion, and cross-multiplication.
- Rearrange and solve literal equations and scientific/geometric formulas for specified target variables.
- Translate real-world word problems into linear algebraic equations and solve them.
- Understand standard form of linear equations in two variables ($ax + by = c$) and test/find ordered pairs $(x, y)$.
- Graph linear equations on the Cartesian plane and classify lines as horizontal ($y=c$), vertical ($x=c$), or slanted.
- Solve systems of simultaneous linear equations using the Elimination Method and the Substitution Method.
- Integers & Arithmetic: Rules for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing positive and negative numbers.
- Algebraic Expressions: Combining like terms, distributing constants across brackets ($a(b+c) = ab + ac$).
- Cartesian Plane: Plotting ordered pairs $(x, y)$ across quadrants and along axes.
- Sign Inversion: Forgetting that moving a term across the equals sign changes its sign ($+ \to -$ and $- \to +$).
- Bracket Distribution: Overlooking the negative sign in expressions like $16 - (2x - 3) = 16 - 2x + 3$.
- Horizontal vs Vertical Lines: Confusing $x = c$ (vertical line parallel to $y$-axis) with $y = c$ (horizontal line parallel to $x$-axis).
- Simultaneous Elimination Signs: Subtracting entire equations without distributing the minus sign to every single term.
Illustrate equations as a two-pan balance scale: whatever operation you perform on one pan must be identically performed on the other to preserve perfect balance. Connect simultaneous equations to practical real-world scenarios such as ticket pricing (adult vs child tickets) and finding the break-even point for small business projects.
1. Algebraic Equations & Linear Equations in One Variable
An algebraic expression is a combination of variables, constants, and arithmetic operations (e.g., $4x + 7$). When two algebraic expressions are joined by an equals sign ($=$), it forms an algebraic equation (e.g., $4x + 7 = 19$).
Key Definitions & Properties
- Linear Equation in One Variable: An algebraic equation where the highest exponent of the variable is strictly $1$. Standard form: $ax + b = 0$ (where $a \ne 0$).
- Solution (Root): The specific numerical value of the variable that makes the equality statement true.
- Properties of Equality (Balance Scale Rules):
- Addition Property: If $a = b$, then $a + c = b + c$.
- Subtraction Property: If $a = b$, then $a - c = b - c$.
- Multiplication Property: If $a = b$, then $a \cdot c = b \cdot c$.
- Division Property: If $a = b$ and $c \ne 0$, then $\frac{a}{c} = \frac{b}{c}$.
- Literal Equation: An equation consisting primarily of multiple letters/variables representing geometric or physical formulas (such as $P = 2l + 2w$, $V = lwh$, $C = \frac{5}{9}(F - 32)$). Solving a literal equation means isolating one chosen variable in terms of all other variables.
2. Exercise 8.1 — 100% Step-by-Step Solved
Subtract 5 from both sides:
$2x = 19 - 5 = 14$
Divide by 2:
$x = \frac{14}{2} = \mathbf{7}$
✓ Check: $2(7) + 5 = 14 + 5 = 19$.
Group $x$-terms on LHS, constants on RHS:
$5x - 2x = 3 + 7$
$3x = 10 \implies x = \mathbf{\frac{10}{3}}$ (or $3\frac{1}{3}$)
✓ Check: $5(\frac{10}{3}) - 7 = \frac{29}{3} = 2(\frac{10}{3}) + 3$.
Subtract $11x$ and add 13:
$19x - 11x = 27 + 13$
$8x = 40 \implies x = \frac{40}{8} = \mathbf{5}$
✓ Check: $19(5) - 13 = 82 = 11(5) + 27$.
Subtract $6y$ and subtract 17:
$9y - 6y = 23 - 17$
$3y = 6 \implies y = \frac{6}{3} = \mathbf{2}$
✓ Check: $9(2) + 17 = 35 = 6(2) + 23$.
Expand brackets on RHS:
$2x + 3 = 16 - 2x + 3 = 19 - 2x$
Add $2x$ and subtract 3:
$4x = 19 - 3 = 16 \implies x = \frac{16}{4} = \mathbf{4}$
✓ Check: LHS $= 2(4)+3=11$; RHS $= 16-(5)=11$.
Subtract 3 from both sides:
$\frac{x}{2} = \frac{1}{2} - 3 = \frac{1 - 6}{2} = -\frac{5}{2}$
Multiply both sides by 2:
$x = \mathbf{-5}$
✓ Check: $-\frac{5}{2} + 3 = -2.5 + 3 = 0.5 = \frac{1}{2}$.
Distribute 8 inside parentheses:
$4x - 24 = 7x + 2$
Subtract $7x$ and add 24:
$-3x = 26 \implies x = \mathbf{-\frac{26}{3}}$ (or $-8\frac{2}{3}$)
✓ Check: LHS $= 8(-\frac{22}{3}) = -\frac{176}{3} = \text{RHS}$.
Rearrange terms:
$\frac{4}{5} + \frac{1}{3} = 2x - x$
$x = \frac{12 + 5}{15} = \mathbf{\frac{17}{15}}$ (or $1\frac{2}{15}$)
✓ Check: LHS $= \frac{29}{15} = \text{RHS}$.
Group $x$-terms on LHS:
$\frac{x}{2} + \frac{2x}{3} = 4 + 3 = 7$
$\frac{3x + 4x}{6} = 7 \implies \frac{7x}{6} = 7 \implies x = \mathbf{6}$
✓ Check: $\frac{6}{2} - 3 = 0 = 4 - \frac{2(6)}{3}$.
Cross-multiply denominators:
$3(2x + 5) = 7x$
$6x + 15 = 7x \implies x = \mathbf{15}$
✓ Check: $\frac{2(15)+5}{15} = \frac{35}{15} = \frac{7}{3}$.
Cross-multiply:
$8y = 9y - 2 \implies -y = -2 \implies y = \mathbf{2}$
✓ Check: $\frac{2}{9(2)-2} = \frac{2}{16} = \frac{1}{8}$.
Cross-multiply:
$5x = 9(x - 12) \implies 5x = 9x - 108$
$-4x = -108 \implies x = \mathbf{27}$
✓ Check: $\frac{27}{27-12} = \frac{27}{15} = \frac{9}{5}$.
Divide numerators by 4: $\frac{6}{5z + 4} = \frac{1}{z - 1}$
Cross-multiply: $6(z - 1) = 5z + 4$
$6z - 6 = 5z + 4 \implies z = \mathbf{10}$
✓ Check: $\frac{24}{54} = \frac{4}{9} = \frac{4}{10-1}$.
Cross-multiply:
$2(2x + 14) = -3(4x + 4)$
$4x + 28 = -12x - 12 \implies 16x = -40$
$x = -\frac{40}{16} = \mathbf{-\frac{5}{2}}$ (or $-2.5$)
✓ Check: $\frac{-6}{9} = -\frac{2}{3}$.
Step 2 (Rearrange): $7 - 6 = \frac{3x}{5} - \frac{x}{2} \implies 1 = \frac{6x - 5x}{10} = \frac{x}{10}$
Step 3 (Solve): $x = 1 \times 10 = \mathbf{10}$.
✓ Verification: LHS $= \frac{10}{2}+7 = 12$; RHS $= 3(\frac{10}{5}+2) = 3(4) = 12$.
Step 2: $x + \frac{2}{3}x = 45 \implies \left(1 + \frac{2}{3}\right)x = 45 \implies \frac{5}{3}x = 45$
Step 3: Multiply by $\frac{3}{5}$: $x = 45 \times \frac{3}{5} = 9 \times 3 = \mathbf{27}$.
✓ Verification: $27 + \frac{2}{3}(27) = 27 + 18 = 45$.
Step 2: Add 1 to both: $\frac{(d - 5) + 1}{d + 1} = \frac{2}{3} \implies \frac{d - 4}{d + 1} = \frac{2}{3}$
Step 3: Cross-multiply: $3(d - 4) = 2(d + 1) \implies 3d - 12 = 2d + 2 \implies d = 14$.
Step 4: Numerator $= 14 - 5 = 9$. Thus, the original fraction is $\mathbf{\frac{9}{14}}$.
✓ Verification: $\frac{9 + 1}{14 + 1} = \frac{10}{15} = \frac{2}{3}$.
• (i) In terms of $y$: $4y = 20 - 5x \implies \mathbf{y = \frac{20 - 5x}{4}}$
• (ii) In terms of $x$: $5x = 20 - 4y \implies \mathbf{x = \frac{20 - 4y}{5}}$
• (i) Solve for $w$: $2w = P - 2l \implies \mathbf{w = \frac{P - 2l}{2} = \frac{P}{2} - l}$
• (ii) For $P = 100, l = 25$: $w = \frac{100 - 50}{2} = \mathbf{25\text{ units}}$.
• (i) In terms of $C$: $\frac{9}{5}C = F - 32 \implies \mathbf{F = \frac{9}{5}C + 32}$
• (ii) At $C = 15^\circ\text{C}$: $F = \frac{9}{5}(15) + 32 = 27 + 32 = \mathbf{59^\circ\text{F}}$
• At $C = 10^\circ\text{C}$: $F = \frac{9}{5}(10) + 32 = 18 + 32 = \mathbf{50^\circ\text{F}}$.
Divide both sides by $lh$:
$\mathbf{w = \frac{V}{lh}}$
Subtract $2B$: $Ph = S - 2B$
Divide by $P$: $\mathbf{h = \frac{S - 2B}{P}}$
Multiply by $ab$: $abx = a + b + c$
Collect $a$: $abx - a = b + c \implies a(bx - 1) = b + c$
Divide by $(bx - 1)$: $\mathbf{a = \frac{b + c}{bx - 1}}$
3. Linear Equations in Two Variables & Ordered Pairs
An equation of the form $\mathbf{ax + by = c}$ (where $a, b, c$ are real numbers and $a, b \ne 0$) is called a linear equation in two variables ($x$ and $y$).
- Solution as an Ordered Pair: A pair of real numbers $(x_0, y_0)$ is a solution if substituting $x = x_0$ and $y = y_0$ into the equation satisfies the equality $\text{LHS} = \text{RHS}$.
- Infinite Solutions: While a linear equation in one variable has a single unique root, a linear equation in two variables has infinitely many solutions, because for any arbitrary value chosen for $x$, there is a corresponding value of $y$.
4. Exercise 8.2 — 100% Step-by-Step Solved
• $(-1, 10): 3(-1) - 10 = -13 \ne -8$
• $(3, 10): 3(3) - 10 = -1 \ne -8$
• $(-2, 2): 3(-2) - 2 = -8 = \text{RHS}$ ✓
• $(-1, 5): 3(-1) - 5 = -8 = \text{RHS}$ ✓
Solutions: $\mathbf{(-2, 2)}$ and $\mathbf{(-1, 5)}$.
• $(1, -2): 5(1) - 3(-2) = 11 = \text{RHS}$ ✓
• $(3, 1): 15 - 3 = 12 \ne 11$
• $(-2, -7): -10 + 21 = 11 = \text{RHS}$ ✓
• $(7, 8): 35 - 24 = 11 = \text{RHS}$ ✓
Solutions: $\mathbf{(1, -2)}$, $\mathbf{(-2, -7)}$, and $\mathbf{(7, 8)}$.
• $(0, 1): 2(0) - 1 = -1 = \text{RHS}$ ✓
• $(2, 5): 4 - 5 = -1 = \text{RHS}$ ✓
• $(0, 0): 0 \ne -1$
• $(-2, -3): -4 - (-3) = -1 = \text{RHS}$ ✓
Solutions: $\mathbf{(0, 1)}$, $\mathbf{(2, 5)}$, and $\mathbf{(-2, -3)}$.
• $(4, 0): 12 \ne 6$
• $(2, 0): 3(2) - 0 = 6 = \text{RHS}$ ✓
• $(3, -2): 9 + 4 = 13 \ne 6$
• $(3, -1): 9 + 2 = 11 \ne 6$
Solution: $\mathbf{(2, 0)}$.
• $(2, 3): 4 + 3 = 7 \ne 4$
• $(1, \frac{1}{2}): 2 + 0.5 = 2.5 \ne 4$
• $(0, 4): 2(0) + 4 = 4 = \text{RHS}$ ✓
• $(-2, 2): -4 + 2 = -2 \ne 4$
Solution: $\mathbf{(0, 4)}$.
• $(-10, 0): 5(-10) - 0 = -50 = \text{RHS}$ ✓
• $(-5, 5): -25 - 10 = -35 \ne -50$
• $(0, 25): 0 - 50 = -50 = \text{RHS}$ ✓
• $(20, -2): 100 + 4 = 104 \ne -50$
Solutions: $\mathbf{(-10, 0)}$ and $\mathbf{(0, 25)}$.
• For $x = 0 \implies y = 3 \implies \mathbf{(0, 3)}$
• For $x = 1 \implies y = 4 \implies \mathbf{(1, 4)}$
• For $x = -1 \implies y = 2 \implies \mathbf{(-1, 2)}$
• For $x = 0 \implies y = -3 \implies \mathbf{(0, -3)}$
• For $x = -2 \implies y = 0 \implies \mathbf{(-2, 0)}$
• For $x = 2 \implies y = -6 \implies \mathbf{(2, -6)}$
• For $x = 0 \implies y = 8 \implies \mathbf{(0, 8)}$
• For $x = 2 \implies y = 4 \implies \mathbf{(2, 4)}$
• For $x = 4 \implies y = 0 \implies \mathbf{(4, 0)}$
• For $y = 0 \implies x = 3 \implies \mathbf{(3, 0)}$
• For $y = 1 \implies x = 5 \implies \mathbf{(5, 1)}$
• For $y = -1 \implies x = 1 \implies \mathbf{(1, -1)}$
5. Graphing Linear Equations on the Cartesian Plane
The geometric representation of every linear equation is a straight line. We can graph any linear equation by creating a table of values and connecting the plotted points with a straight line.
The $y$-value is constantly $c$ regardless of $x$. The line is parallel to the $x$-axis. (If $c = 0$, it is the $x$-axis itself).
The $x$-value is constantly $c$ regardless of $y$. The line is parallel to the $y$-axis. (If $c = 0$, it is the $y$-axis itself).
Contains both $x$ and $y$. If $c = 0$ ($y = mx$), the line passes through the origin $(0, 0)$.
6. Exercise 8.3 — 100% Step-by-Step Solved
| $x$ | -2 | -1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $y$ | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| $x$ | -1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $y$ | -7 | -5 | -3 | 1 | 3 |
| $x$ | -3 | -2 | -1 | 0 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $y$ | -1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| $x$ | -2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $y$ | 3.5 | 0.5 | -2.5 | -5.5 |
Table: $(-4, 1), (-2, 0), (0, -1), (2, -2), (4, -3)$
Table: $(-4, 2), (0, 3), (4, 4), (8, 5), (-8, 1)$
Table: $(-4, -3), (-2, -4), (0, -5), (2, -6), (4, -7)$
Table: $(-5, -6), (0, -3), (5, 0), (10, 3), (15, 6)$
Table: $(-3, 12), (0, 10), (3, 8), (6, 6), (9, 4)$
Table: $(-2, 2), (3, 0), (8, -2), (-7, 4), (13, -4)$
Table: $(-1, 6), (0, 3), (1, 0), (2, -3), (3, -6)$
Table: $(-4, 0), (-2, -1), (0, -2), (2, -3), (4, -4)$
Table: $(-4, -6), (0, -3), (4, 0), (8, 3), (12, 6)$
Table: $(0, -9), (4, -6), (8, -3), (12, 0), (16, 3)$
7. Systems of Simultaneous Linear Equations
When two linear equations in two variables are considered together to find a single common ordered pair $(x, y)$ that satisfies both simultaneously, they are called a system of simultaneous linear equations.
- Multiply one or both equations by suitable constants so the coefficients of one variable become equal (or opposites).
- Add or subtract the two equations to completely eliminate that variable, leaving an equation in one variable.
- Solve for the remaining variable, then substitute back to find the other variable.
- Pick one equation and isolate one variable (e.g., $x$ in terms of $y$).
- Substitute this expression into the other equation, converting it into a single-variable equation.
- Solve for that variable, then plug it into the isolated formula to calculate the second variable.
8. Exercise 8.4 — 100% Step-by-Step Solved
• Multiply (1) by 2: $4x + 2y = 6$
• Add to (2): $7x = 0 \implies \mathbf{x = 0}$
• Substitute: $2(0) + y = 3 \implies \mathbf{y = 3}$
Solution: $\mathbf{(0, 3)}$.
• Multiply (1) by 2: $14x - 4y = 2$
• Add to (2): $17x = 17 \implies \mathbf{x = 1}$
• Substitute: $7(1) - 2y = 1 \implies 2y = 6 \implies \mathbf{y = 3}$
Solution: $\mathbf{(1, 3)}$.
• Multiply (2) by 3: $9x - 15y = 24$
• Subtract from (1): $19y = -19 \implies \mathbf{y = -1}$
• Substitute: $3x - 5(-1) = 8 \implies 3x = 3 \implies \mathbf{x = 1}$
Solution: $\mathbf{(1, -1)}$.
• Multiply (1) by 3: $6x + 9y = 15$
• Multiply (2) by 2: $6x + 4y = 20$
• Subtract: $5y = -5 \implies \mathbf{y = -1}$
• Substitute: $2x - 3 = 5 \implies 2x = 8 \implies \mathbf{x = 4}$
Solution: $\mathbf{(4, -1)}$.
• From (1): $x = 2 - 4y$
• In (2): $5(2 - 4y) - 4y = 10 \implies 10 - 24y = 10 \implies \mathbf{y = 0}$
• $x = 2 - 4(0) = \mathbf{2}$
Solution: $\mathbf{(2, 0)}$.
• From (1): $x = y + 5$
• In (2): $(y + 5) + y = 19 \implies 2y = 14 \implies \mathbf{y = 7}$
• $x = 7 + 5 = \mathbf{12}$
Solution: $\mathbf{(12, 7)}$.
• From (2): $x = y - 1$
• In (1): $3(y - 1) - 5y = -1 \implies -2y = 2 \implies \mathbf{y = -1}$
• $x = -1 - 1 = \mathbf{-2}$
Solution: $\mathbf{(-2, -1)}$.
• From (2): $y = 2x + 3$
• In (1): $3x - 7(2x + 3) = -10 \implies -11x = 11 \implies \mathbf{x = -1}$
• $y = 2(-1) + 3 = \mathbf{1}$
Solution: $\mathbf{(-1, 1)}$.
Add equations: $5x = 25 \implies \mathbf{x = 5}, \mathbf{y = 3}$. Solution: $\mathbf{(5, 3)}$.
Multiply 1st by 2, add: $7x = 7 \implies \mathbf{x = 1}, \mathbf{y = 1}$. Solution: $\mathbf{(1, 1)}$.
$26x - 12y = 40$ & $21x + 12y = 54 \implies 47x = 94 \implies \mathbf{x = 2}, \mathbf{y = 1}$. Solution: $\mathbf{(2, 1)}$.
Add: $2x = 10 \implies \mathbf{x = 5}$; Subtract: $2y = -4 \implies \mathbf{y = -2}$. Solution: $\mathbf{(5, -2)}$.
$2x + y = 8$ & $x + 6y = 15 \implies \mathbf{x = 3}, \mathbf{y = 2}$. Solution: $\mathbf{(3, 2)}$.
Subtract: $x = 2 \implies -2y = 3 \implies \mathbf{y = -\frac{3}{2}}$. Solution: $\mathbf{(2, -\frac{3}{2})}$.
$3x + 7y = 0$ & $3x + 11y = 4 \implies 4y = 4 \implies \mathbf{y = 1}, \mathbf{x = -\frac{7}{3}}$. Solution: $\mathbf{(-\frac{7}{3}, 1)}$.
$3x - 2y = 1$ & $3x - y = 5 \implies \mathbf{y = 4}, \mathbf{x = 3}$. Solution: $\mathbf{(3, 4)}$.
9. Review Exercise 8 — 100% Step-by-Step Solved
(a) $3x = 8$ (Contains variable and equals sign).
(c) 10 ($6y = 60 \implies y = 10$).
(c) 1.
(b) an expression (No equality sign).
(d) unknown quantity.
(d) 4 ($4y = 16 \implies y = 4$).
(a) $6x + 3 = 9$.
(b) $-\frac{1}{7}$ ($-7x = 1 \implies x = -\frac{1}{7}$).
(a) $7x + 2 = 20$.
(b) $(2, 6)$ ($\frac{1}{2}(2) + 6 = 1 + 6 = 7$).
(a) straight line.
(b) $-x + 4y = 0$ ($2 + 4(-0.5) = 0$).
(a) $(3, 4)$.
$5(x - 8) = 3(x - 3) \implies 5x - 40 = 3x - 9$
$2x = 31 \implies \mathbf{x = \frac{31}{2}}$ (or $15.5$).
$5x = 41 + 4 = 45 \implies \mathbf{x = 9}$.
Let width $= w$, length $= w + 4$.
$2(w + w + 4) = 84 \implies 4w + 8 = 84 \implies 4w = 76$
$\mathbf{\text{Breadth} = 19\text{ m}}$, $\mathbf{\text{Length} = 23\text{ m}}$.
• (i) $5x - 4y = 8 \implies y = \frac{5x - 8}{4}$
• (ii) $x = y - 4 \implies y = x + 4$
• (iii) $x + y = 2 \implies y = 2 - x$
• (iv) $2y + x = -4 \implies y = \frac{-4 - x}{2}$
• (i) $6x + 2y = 11$ and $3x - 8y = 1 \implies \mathbf{\left(\frac{5}{3}, \frac{1}{2}\right)}$
• (ii) $4x + 3y = 5$ and $6x - 9y = 0 \implies \mathbf{\left(\frac{5}{6}, \frac{5}{9}\right)}$
• (i) $x = -6$: Vertical
• (ii) $y = 5$: Horizontal
• (iii) $4x = 12y \implies y = \frac{1}{3}x$: Neither
• (iv) $x = 0, y = 0$: $x=0$ is Vertical ($y$-axis); $y=0$ is Horizontal ($x$-axis).
10. Chapter 8 Master Formula Card & Active Recall
$ax + b = 0 \quad (a \ne 0)$
Unique root: $x = -\frac{b}{a}$
$ax + by = c$
Graph: Straight Line
Solutions: Infinitely Many $(x, y)$
Horizontal: $y = c$ (parallel to $x$-axis)
Vertical: $x = c$ (parallel to $y$-axis)
Through Origin: $y = mx$
1. Elimination (Match coefficients)
2. Substitution (Isolate & plug in)
Intersection point satisfies both.
More Chapter Notes for Class 7 (FBISE)
MathematicsTest Your Knowledge on Chapter 8: Class 7 Mathematics Ch 8 Mastery Guide: Linear Equations in One & Two Variables, Literal Equations, Graphing & Simultaneous Equations (FBISE)
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Class 7 Mathematics - Ch 8: Linear Equations Chapter Mock Test
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