18 questionsMath · Algebra

Linear Equations practice questions

Linear equation questions ask you to solve for a variable or to work out how many solutions an equation has. Isolate the variable with inverse operations; when the variable cancels out, compare what is left to tell whether there is no solution or infinitely many.

Linear Equations questions

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  1. 1Linear equationsFoundation

    If 3x + 5 = 23, what is the value of x?

    Show the answer and explanation

    Answer: 6

    Subtract 5 from both sides to get 3x = 18. Divide by 3, so x = 6.

    How did you do?
  2. 2Linear equationsFoundation

    What is the value of x in (x + 3)/4 = 5?

    Show the answer and explanation

    Answer: 17

    Multiply both sides by 4: x + 3 = 20. Subtract 3 to get x = 17.

    How did you do?
  3. 3Linear equationsFoundation

    What is the solution to 4 - 2x = 10?

    Show the answer and explanation

    Answer: -3

    Subtract 4 from both sides: -2x = 6. Divide by -2, so x = -3.

    How did you do?
  4. 4Linear equationsFoundation

    What is the solution to 2(3x - 1) = 4x + 8?

    Show the answer and explanation

    Answer: 5

    Distribute to get 6x - 2 = 4x + 8. Subtract 4x and add 2 to get 2x = 10, so x = 5.

    How did you do?
  5. 5Linear equationsFoundation

    What is the solution to 7 - 3(x - 1) = 1?

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    Answer: 3

    Distribute carefully: 7 - 3x + 3 = 1, so 10 - 3x = 1. Then -3x = -9 and x = 3. Writing 7 - 3x - 3 is the common slip.

    How did you do?
  6. 6Linear equationsFoundation

    If 8 - 2x = 3x - 7, what is the value of x?

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    Answer: 3

    Collect the variable on the side that keeps it positive: adding 2x gives 8 = 5x - 7, then adding 7 gives 15 = 5x, so x = 3. Choosing that side first avoids a sign error later.

    How did you do?
  7. 7Linear equationsFoundation

    What is the y-intercept of the line 3x - 5y = 20?

    Show the answer and explanation

    Answer: -4

    Set x = 0: -5y = 20, so y = -4. Rearranging into y = (3/5)x - 4 shows the same thing. Reading 20 off the equation forgets that it has not yet been divided by the coefficient of y.

    How did you do?
  8. 8Linear equationsFoundation

    What is the solution to 3(x + 2) = 4x - 5?

    Show the answer and explanation

    Answer: 11

    Expanding gives 3x + 6 = 4x - 5. Subtracting 3x leaves 6 = x - 5, so x = 11. Check: 3(13) = 39 and 4(11) - 5 = 39.

    How did you do?
  9. 9Linear equationsFoundation

    If 2x/3 = 8, what is the value of x?

    Show the answer and explanation

    Answer: 12

    Multiplying both sides by 3 gives 2x = 24, so x = 12. Multiplying by 3 without then halving gives 24, which is the step most often left out.

    How did you do?
  10. 10Linear equationsFoundation

    What is the solution to 7 - 2x = x + 1?

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    Answer: 2

    Add 2x to both sides: 7 = 3x + 1. Subtract 1: 6 = 3x, so x = 2. Check: 7 - 4 = 3 and 2 + 1 = 3.

    How did you do?
  11. 11Linear equationsStandard

    What is the solution to 5(x - 2) = 3x + 10?

    Show the answer and explanation

    Answer: 10

    Expand first: 5x - 10 = 3x + 10. Subtract 3x and add 10: 2x = 20, so x = 10.

    How did you do?
  12. 12Linear equationsStandard

    What is the solution to (2x)/3 - 1 = 5?

    Show the answer and explanation

    Answer: 9

    Add 1 to both sides to get 2x / 3 = 6. Multiply by 3 to get 2x = 18, so x = 9.

    How did you do?
  13. 13Linear equationsStandard

    If (3x - 1)/2 = (x + 7)/3, what is the value of x?

    Show the answer and explanation

    Answer: 17/7

    Cross-multiply: 3(3x - 1) = 2(x + 7), so 9x - 3 = 2x + 14. Then 7x = 17 and x = 17/7.

    How did you do?
  14. 14Linear equationsStandard

    If 4(x + 2) - 3 = 2(x + 9), what is the value of x?

    Show the answer and explanation

    Answer: 6.5

    Distribute both sides: 4x + 8 - 3 = 2x + 18, so 4x + 5 = 2x + 18. Then 2x = 13 and x = 6.5.

    How did you do?
  15. 15Linear equationsStandard

    What is the solution to 2(x - 4) = 3x + 1?

    Show the answer and explanation

    Answer: -9

    Expanding gives 2x - 8 = 3x + 1. Subtracting 2x from both sides leaves -8 = x + 1, so x = -9. Check it: 2(-13) = -26 and 3(-9) + 1 = -26.

    How did you do?
  16. 16Linear equationsStandard

    What is the x-intercept of the line 5x - 2y = 20?

    Show the answer and explanation

    Answer: 4

    The x-intercept is where y = 0, so 5x = 20 and x = 4. Setting x to zero instead gives the y-intercept, -10, which is the commonest confusion here.

    How did you do?
  17. 17Linear equationsStandard

    What is the y-intercept of the line 3x + 2y = 12?

    Show the answer and explanation

    Answer: 6

    The y-intercept is where x = 0, so 2y = 12 and y = 6. Setting y to zero instead gives the x-intercept of 4, which is the usual confusion.

    How did you do?
  18. 18Linear equationsStandard

    Enter the solution to 5(x - 2) = 3x + 4.

    Student-produced response: write your own answer rather than choosing one.

    Show the answer and explanation

    Answer: 7

    Expanding gives 5x - 10 = 3x + 4. Subtracting 3x leaves 2x - 10 = 4, so 2x = 14 and x = 7.

    How did you do?

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