4 Equations and

inequalities
4.1 Constructing and
solving equations
Exercise 4.1 Key words
construct
Focus solve
1 Copy and complete the workings to solve these equations.
a 2x − 6 = 10 b 4(3x + 2) = 32
2 x = 10 + 6 12 x + = 32
2x = 12 x = 32 −

x= 12 x =
2
x= x=
12
x=
y d 5y + 3 = 9 + 2y
c −3 =1
2
5y − 2y = 9 −
y
=1+
2 y=
y
=
2 y=
y= ×2
y=
y=

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4 Equations and inequalities

2 Copy and complete the workings to solve these equations.

a 5 − 2x = 9 b   6(3 − x) = 3x
−2 x = 9 − − 6 x = 3x
−2 x = = 3x + 6 x
= 9x
x=
−2
=x
   x = 9
x=
3y
c +1 = 7 d     3(y + 5) = 2(20 − y)
4
3y 3y + = 40 − y
=7−
4 3y + y = 40 −
3y
= y=
4
3y = ×4
y=
3y =
y=
y=
3
y=
3 Copy and complete the workings to solve these equations.
30 63
a =5 b    =9
x y +1
30 = 5x 63 = 9( y + 1)
30 63
=x = y +1

x= = y +1
−1 = y
y=

Practice
4 Solve these equations.
a 3g − 5 = 31 b −3g − 5 = 25
c 7 + 4p = 28 + p d −5 + 3g = 16
e 15 = 40 − 5y f 6(y − 7) = 30
g 0 = 17(15 + 5x) h 5(x + 5) + 3(x − 2) = 3

56
 4.1 Constructing and solving equations

5 Here is an equation: 5(x + 3) = 10x − 20

a Solve the equation by first multiplying out the brackets.
b Solve the equation by first dividing by 5.
c Which method do you prefer? Explain why.
6 Here is an equation: 8(x − 4) + 4(5 − x) = 0
a Solve the equation by first multiplying out the two brackets.
b Solve the equation by first dividing by 4.
c Which method do you prefer? Explain why.
7 This is part of Cain’s homework.

Question Solve 5(x + 4) = 2(30 – x)

Answer 5x + 9 = 60 – 2x
5x – 2x = 60 + 9
3x = 69
69
x = 3 = 23

a Use the answer, x = 23, to show that Cain’s working is

incorrect.
b Work through Cain’s working and explain all the mistakes he
has made.
c Work out the correct answer, and show how to check that your
answer is correct.
8 Solve these equations. Check each answer by substituting the
answer back into the equation.
105 3
a =5 b = 12
a b
36 15
c =9 d = 25
c+2 d −4
9 Two numbers are n and 2(n + 3).
a The sum of the numbers is 90. Construct an equation to
show this.
b Solve your equation.
c Work out the two numbers.

57
4 Equations and inequalities

10 Marcus is thinking of a number.

a Write an equation to show
this situation. If you subtract 8 from
my number and then
b Find the original number.
multiply by 5, you get the
same answer as if you add
10 to my number and
then multiply by 2.

11 Elin shares $180 between her grandchildren. They each get $36.
a Which two of these equations represent the situation?
x 180
A = 36 B = 36 C 180x = 36
180 x
36
D = 180 E 36x = 180
x
b Solve all of the equations in part a. Use your answers to
decide if you chose the correct two equations in part a.

Challenge
12 In this algebra wall, each number or expression is the sum of the
two numbers or expressions below it.
30 + x
a Write expressions for the numbers in the two empty cells.
b The number in the top cell is 144. Write an equation to show this. 30 x 50

c Solve your equation in part b.

13 The length of the first side of a triangle is s cm. The length of the
second side is twice the length of the first side. The length of the third
side is 5 cm more than the length of the second side. The perimeter of
the triangle is 1 metre.
a Write an equation to show this situation.
b Solve your equation in part a.
c Find the length of the longest side of the triangle.
14 Read what Sofia says.
a Write an equation to show this I am y years old.
My mother’s age is 3 times
situation.
my age. My brother is 2 years
b Solve your equation in part a. younger than me. My father’s
c How old is Sofia’s father? age is 4 times my brother’s
age. The total of our four
ages is 116 years.

58
 4.2 Simultaneous equations

15 a The length of one side of a square is a cm.

Tip
Another side is 3(a − 2) cm long.
i Write an equation to show this situation. What is special
about the lengths
ii What are the lengths of the sides of the square?
of the sides of a
b The length of the shorter side of a rectangle is a cm. square?
The length of the longer side of the rectangle is
3(a − 2) cm. The perimeter is 44 cm.
i Write an equation to show this situation.
ii What are the lengths of the sides of the rectangle?
16 The diagram shows the size of one of the angles in an
equilateral triangle.
a Write an equation to represent the problem.
b Solve your equation to find the value of x. °
420
9–x

4.2 Simultaneous equations

Exercise 4.2 Key words
method of
Focus elimination
1 Copy and complete the workings to solve the simultaneous method of
equations y = 2x − 1 and y = x + 5 by the method of substitution. substitution
simultaneous
À Work out x. Á Work out y. equations
2x − 1 = x + 5 y = 2x − 1
2x − =5+ = 2× −1
x= = −1
=
 Check values are correct. à Write the answers:
y = x+5 x= and y =
= +5
=

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4 Equations and inequalities

2 Copy and complete the workings to solve the simultaneous

equations y = 6x + 3 and y = 2x − 9.
À Work out x. Á Work out y. Â Check values are correct.
6x + 3 = 2x − 9 y = 6x + 3 y = 2x − 9
6x − = −9 − = 6× +3 = 2× −9
x= = +3 = −9
= =
x= =

à Write the answers: x = and y =

3 a Copy and complete the table of values for each equation.
y = 2x + 1 x 0 2 4 y=x+4 x 0 2 4
y y y

b On graph paper, draw a coordinate grid from 0 to 4 on the

x-axis and 0 to 10 on the y-axis.
Plot the points from your tables on the grid and draw the
straight lines y = 2x + 1 and y = x + 4.
c Write the coordinates of the point where your two lines
intersect. Use your coordinates to write the solution to the
simultaneous equations y = 2x + 1 and y = x + 4.
d Copy and complete the workings to solve the simultaneous
equations y = 2x + 1 and y = x + 4 algebraically.
À Work out x. Á Work out y. Â Check values are correct.
2x + 1 = x + 4 y = 2x + 1 y= x+4
2x − =4− = 2× +1 = +4
x= = +1 =
=
à Write the answers: x = and y =
e Check that your answers to parts c and d are the same.

60
 4.2 Simultaneous equations

4 Copy and complete the workings to solve these simultaneous

equations using the method of elimination.
a x + y = 10 and x − y = 4
À Add the two equations. Á Substitute x = into first equation
x+y = 10 +y = 10
+ x−x =4 y = 10 −
2x + 0y = =

2x = =
,x =
2
 Check in second equation à Write the answers:
− = x= and y =
b x + 5y = 28 and x + 3y = 18
À Subtract the two equations. Á Substitute y = into first equation
x + 5y = 28 x+5× = 28
− x + 3y = 18 x = 28 −
0x + 2y = =

2y = =
,y =
2
 Check in second equation à Write the answers:
+3× = x= and y =
c 3x + 2y = 34 and x − 2y = 6
À Add the two equations. Á Substitute y = into first equation
3x + 2y = 34 3× + 2y = 34
+ x − 2y =6 2y = 34 −
4x + 0y =
2y = =
,y =
2
4x = =
,x =
4
 Check in second equation à Write the answers:
−2× = x= and y =

Practice
5 Solve these simultaneous equations. y = 3x y = x + 12
6 Solve these simultaneous equations. y = 2x + 1 y = −2x + 9

61
4 Equations and inequalities

7 Solve these simultaneous equations. y=3−x y =2x − 15

Tip
8 a Here are some simultaneous equations: y = 4x − 3 and y = x + 3
For the graphical
Solve the equations using
method, use the
i a graphical method same method as
ii an algebraic method. in Question 3.
For the algebraic
b Check your answers to parts ai and aii are the same.
method, use the
c Which method do you prefer, the graphical or the algebraic same method as in
method? Explain why. questions 1 and 2.
9 Solve these simultaneous equations using the method of elimination.
a x + y = 20 b 3x + y = 30 c x + 2y = 21 d 3x + 2y = 64
x − y = 16 2x − y = 15 3x − 2y = 15 x + 2y = 40
10 Solve each pair of simultaneous equations. Use your favourite
algebraic method.
a x = y − 10 b y + x = 27 c 2x + 3y = 1 d y = 12 + 4x
y = 2x y = 4(x + 3) y=5−x x + 2y = 6

Challenge
11 Den buys 2 cakes and 3 coffees and it costs him $9. Ang buys 2 cakes
and 1 coffee and it costs her $5.
Let x represent the cost of a cake and y represent the cost of a coffee.
a Write two equations to represent the information.
b Solve your equations to find the cost of a cake and the cost
of a coffee.
12 Xavier buys two items. He receives $2.26 change from $40.
The difference between the prices of the two items is $9.24.
a Write two equations to represent the information.
b Solve your equations to find the cost of each item.
13 x + y = 21 and x − y = 5
Work out the value of 2x + 3y.
14 Here are six equation cards.

6(e − 2) = f + 7 2a − b = 15 3c + 2d = 32 a = 3b 3c − d = 2 3f − 6e = 3
Show that
a the mean value of a, b, c, d, e and f is 7
b the range in the values of a, b, c, d, e and f is 8.

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 4.3 Inequalities

4.3 Inequalities
Exercise 4.3 Key words

Focus inequality
solution set
1 Write the inequality for each solution set.

a b
–2 0 2 4 –8 –6 –4 –2 0 2

c d
–4 –2 0 2 4 6 – 20 – 10 0 10 20

e
–9 –8 –7 –6 –5 –4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2

f
–5 –4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4
2 Show each of these solution sets on a number line.
a x ⩾ −2 b x < 3.5 c x ⩽ −3
d x > 10 e 1<x⩽6 f −4 ⩽ x <4
3 N is an integer. Work out
a the smallest possible value of N when N ⩾ 8.2
b the largest possible value of N when N < −5
c the possible values of N when −3 ⩽ N < 2.5
4 N is an integer and N ⩽ 4
For each statement say whether it
must be true could be true cannot be true

a N=4 b N<0 c N<5 d N⩾5

63
4 Equations and inequalities

5 Copy and complete the solutions to these inequalities.

a 6 x > 18 b 2 x − 3 < 19 c 5x + 1 ⩽ −9 d 3(x − 4) ⩾ 9
x > 18 2 x < 19 + 5x ⩽ −9 − 3x − ⩾9
6
2x < 5x ⩽ 3x ⩾ 9 +
x>
x< 3x ⩾
2
x⩽
5
x< x⩽ x⩾
3
x⩾

Practice
6 Solve these inequalities.
a 10x ⩾ 5 b 4x + 10 < 22 c 5(x − 7) ⩽ 30 d 15 > 2(x + 1)
7 Show each solution set in Question 6 on a number line.
8 a Show that the solution set to the inequality
3(y − 4) + 7y ⩾ 8y − 5 is y ⩾ 3.5
b Substitute these values for y into 3(y − 4) + 7y ⩾ 8y − 5 to
show that the solution set is correct.
i y=3 ii y = 3.5 iii y = 4
9 Solve these inequalities. Check each solution set.
a 4x − 5 ⩽ 2x + 15 b x + 6 > 14 − x
c 5(2 + x) ⩽ 10x x
d −1 < 4
4
10 The diagram shows triangle DEF. Side length DF is greater than
side length DE.
a Write an inequality to show this information.
b Solve your inequality.
c Check your solution is correct.
D

2x + 1 5x – 14

E F

64
 4.3 Inequalities

11 Copy and complete the solutions to these inequalities.

a 3x > 4 x + 12 b 3x − 3 < 5x − 17 c 6 − 5x ⩽ − 12
3x − 4 x > 3x − 5x < −17 + −5x ⩽ − 12 −
−x > −2 x < −5x ⩽

−x −2 x
< >
−1 −1 −2 −2
x< x>

Tip
Remember, when you divide by a negative number you must
change the inequality sign.

Challenge
12 The diagram shows four angles round a point. x°
a Write an inequality for x. 2x °

b Solve the inequality. (x + 30) °

c Can the angle labelled x° be a right angle? Explain your answer.

13 Xavier has 100 dollars. He gives A dollars to his brother.
He gives his sister 5 dollars more than he gives his brother.
He gives his friend twice as much as he gives his sister. He still has
some money left.
a Write an inequality for A.
b Solve the inequality.
c Can Xavier give his friend 55 dollars? Explain your answer.
14 The angles of a quadrilateral add up to 360°. Three of the angles,
in degrees, are x, 2x and 3(x − 10).
a Write an inequality for x. b Solve the inequality.
c Could the angles that are 2x degrees and 3(x − 10) degrees be
the same size?
Give a reason for your answer.
15 You are given that z > 2. Write an inequality for each expression.
a 2z + 9 b 3(z − 4) c 4 + 2z d 5(3z − 2)
16 Solve these inequalities. Represent each answer on a number line.
a 3 < x + 3 ⩽ 10 b 0⩽y−2⩽8 c −2 < 2n < 6 d 0 < 4m < 18

65