Main content
Course: Digital SAT Math > Unit 2
Lesson 1: Solving linear equations and inequalities: foundationsSolving linear equations and linear inequalities | Lesson
A guide to solving linear equations and linear inequalities on the digital SAT
What are linear equations and inequalities?
Linear equations and inequalities are composed of and .
Linear equations use the equal sign ( ).
Linear inequalities use inequality signs ( , , , and ).
In this lesson, we'll learn to:
- Solve linear equations
- Solve linear inequalities
- Recognize the conditions under which a linear equation has one solution, no solution, and infinitely many solutions
Note: If you're taking the SAT, then chances are you have a good understanding of how to solve linear equations and inequalities. However, it's important to solve them in their various forms with consistency. We recommend that you write out your steps (instead of doing everything in your head) to avoid careless errors, and we will do the same in our examples!
You can learn anything. Let's do this!
How do I solve linear equations?
Reasoning with linear equations
Types of linear equations
The goal of solving a linear equation is to find the value of a variable; we isolate the variable step by step until only the variable is on one side of the equation and only a constant is on the other.
When solving linear equations, the most important thing to remember is that the equation will remain equivalent to the original equation only if we always treat both sides equally: whenever we do something to one side, we must do the exact same thing to the other side.
Linear equations in one variable
Most of these questions on the SAT contain only one variable.
Example: If , what is the value of ?
We may be asked to combine like terms and distribute coefficients when solving.
When combining like terms, recall that:
Example: If , what is the value of ?
When distributing coefficients, recall that:
Example: If , what is the value of ?
Fractions and negative numbers
The presence of fractions and negative numbers can make linear equations more difficult to solve.
When solving a linear equation with fraction coefficients or constants:
- If the equation has only a fraction coefficient, consider leaving the fraction until the last step in isolating
.
Example: If , what is the value of ?
- If the equation has both fraction coefficients and fraction constants, consider getting rid of the fractions in the first step.
Example: What is the solution to the equation ?
When working with negative numbers, remember that:
Example: If , what is the value of ?
Linear equations in two variables
Sometimes, we're given an equation in two variables and we're told the value of one of the variables. Plug the value of the known variable into the equation and solve.
Example: If and , what is the value of ?
Using linear equations to evaluate expressions
Sometimes, we'll be given a linear equation in one variable and be asked to evaluate a different expression containing the variable. We can approach this type of question in two ways:
- Solve the linear equation, then plug the value of the variable into the expression to evaluate it.
- Find the relationship between the equation and the expression, then evaluate the expression without solving for the variable.
Knowing the second approach is not required, though it may save you valuable time on test day.
Example: If , what is the value of ?
Try it!
How do I solve linear inequalities?
Multi-step inequalities
Types of linear inequalities
The steps for solving linear inequalities are similar to those for solving linear equations. For inequalities, we have to pay attention to the direction of the inequality signs.
Linear inequalities that do not require reversing the inequality sign
When the coefficient of is positive, the inequality sign maintains its direction when we divide by the coefficient to isolate .
Example: What values of satisfy the inequality ?
Linear inequalities that require reversing the inequality sign
When the coefficient of is negative, we must reverse the direction of the inequality sign when we divide by the coefficient to isolate .
Example: What values of satisfy the inequality ?
Try it!
How do I alter the number of solutions for linear equations?
Note: Questions about the number of solutions for linear equations do not appear on every test.
Creating an equation with no solutions
Creating an equation with infinitely many solutions
How many solutions can a linear equation have?
Most linear equations on the SAT have exactly one solution. Linear equations with no solutions or infinitely many solutions must be engineered by specifying the values of constants.
For a linear equation in one variable:
- If the equation can be rewritten in the form
, where is a constant, then that equation has one solution. - If the variable can be eliminated from the equation, and what remains is the equation
, where and are different constants, then the equation has no solution. (No value of can make equal to !) - If the equation can be rewritten in the form
, then the equation has infinitely many solutions. (No matter what the value of is, it will always equal itself!)
Let's look at some examples!
If in the equation above, what value of satisfies the equation?
If is the equation above, what value of satisfies the equation?
Try it!
Your turn!
Things to remember
When solving linear equations, the most important thing to remember is that the equation will remain equivalent to the original equation only if we always treat both sides equally: whenever we do something to one side, we must do the exact same thing to the other side.
When solving linear inequalities:
- If the coefficient of
is positive, the inequality sign maintains its direction when we divide by the coefficient to isolate . - If the coefficient of
is negative, we must reverse the direction of the inequality sign when we divide by the coefficient to isolate .
When determining the number of solutions for a linear equation:
- If the equation can be rewritten in the form
, where is a constant, then that equation has one solution. - If the variable can be eliminated from the equation, and what remains is the equation
, where and are different constants, then the equation has no solution. - If the equation can be rewritten in the form
, then the equation has infinitely many solutions. (No matter what the value of is, it will always equal itself!)
Want to join the conversation?
- The solutions here are so long. We are subtracting, adding, dividing, and multiplying both side by certain values. But instead simply we can take positive values to the other side and change their signs to make it easy. Is it ok in SAT as I have studied like it for a long time.(65 votes)
- they don't ask for your work on the SAT, as long as your answer is correct they don't care how you get to it.(79 votes)
- I finished foundations and am moving on to medium. How come it says that I have completed all the videos and problems? I thought there would be more content in this course.(9 votes)
- So the thing is, the videos and articles are the same for each level. (Foundations, medium, advanced) Only the questions change. They get harder and more complex.
Does this help?(30 votes)
- gotta start again for aug sat(15 votes)
- when solving for x just use the calculator since it is allowed on the whole math section you can just type the equation(16 votes)
- How about 2 solution and how do we figure it out?(4 votes)
- Linear equations can't have 2 solutions(23 votes)
- can someone who gave the digital test please share their experience(13 votes)
- It was generally okay. It's just like the bluebook practice test. But the time in the second module goes really fast if you get the harder one, so you need to practice and master time saving tips(1 vote)
- can you please explain the terms 'fraction coefficient' and 'fraction constant'(2 votes)
- A coefficient is a number that is multiplying the variable (EX: *3*x +7=2) and if that coefficient is a fraction, (EX *1/2*x +7=2) it is a fraction coefficient. A constant is a number that is added or subtracted that is not multiplied or divided by the variable. A 'fraction constant' is a constant that is a fraction.(16 votes)
- Are the practice problems in these Khan Academy modules adaptive, the way the problems on the actual digital SAT are? In other words, if I get a 1/4 on a batch of problems will the next batch of the same skill be easier than if I got a 4/4?(5 votes)
- nah, you'll get the "medium" problems every time you do a "medium" practice, as with the "easy" and "difficult" practices(3 votes)
- r we allowed to use paper for rough work in digital SAT also?(4 votes)
- Yes! we will be provided with paper for rough work too!! Materials like pen or pencil should be brought by ourselves!(5 votes)
- Hello, I lack some of the math lessons on the sat ( there are lessons for math that I haven't even learned yet ). Does the articles and videos in the digital sat math here in khan academy covers everything for every lesson (even the basics) ?(5 votes)
- Sadly No, But you can Manually search each of the topics(2 votes)