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Equations may be true or false, just as word sentences may be true or false. The equation:
3 + x = 7
will be false if any number except 4 is substituted for the variable. The value of the variable for which the equation is true (4 in this example) is called the solution of the equation. We can determine whether or not a given number is a solution of a given equation by substituting the number in place of the variable and determining the truth or falsity of the result.
Example 1 Determine if the value 3 is a solution of the equation
4x - 2 = 3x + 1
Solution We substitute the value 3 for x in the equation and see if the left-hand member equals the right-hand member.
4(3) - 2 = 3(3) + 1
12 - 2 = 9 + 1
10 = 10
Ans. 3 is a solution.
The first-degree equations that we consider in this chapter have at most one solution. The solutions to many such equations can be determined by inspection.
Example 2 Find the solution of each equation by inspection.
a. x + 5 = 12
b. 4 · x = -20
Solutions a. 7 is the solution since 7 + 5 = 12.
b. -5 is the solution since 4(-5) = -20.