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After writing an equation modeling some real-life situation, the next step is to solve it. To do so, it is necessary to apply different Properties of Equality. Along this lesson, these properties will be introduced and applied to equations that can be solved in one step.

Catch-Up and Review

Here are a few recommended readings before getting started with this lesson.

Challenge

Different Ages of Family Members

Zosia's brother is years older than she is. Also, Zosia's brother is half their father's age.

Three Family Members
a If Zosia is years old, write equations for the ages of her brother and father.
b Solve these equations to find their ages.
Discussion

Reflexive, Symmetric, and Transitive Properties of Equality

The Properties of Equality are rules that allow manipulation of an equation in such a way that an equivalent equation is obtained. These properties will be reviewed in sets. The first set of properties is shown below.

Rule

Reflexive Property of Equality

For any real number, the number is equal to itself.

This property is an axiom, so it does not need a proof. This property is used to solve equations. For example, consider the equation below.
The sum on the left-hand side can be interpreted as a number, so this sum has to equal This implies that must be equal to
Rule

Symmetric Property of Equality

For all real numbers, the order of an equality does not matter. Let and be real numbers.

If then

This property can be used together with other Properties of Equality to solve equations or to isolate a variable and express it in terms of another variable. In the example below, the Symmetric Property of Equality is used to express in terms of
symmetric property of equality
This property is an axiom, so it does not need a proof to be accepted as true. The Symmetric Property of Equality also holds true if and are complex numbers.
Rule

Transitive Property of Equality

For all real numbers, if two numbers are equal to the same number, then they are equal to each other. Let and be real numbers.

If and then

This property can be used together with other Properties of Equality to solve equations.
Since this property is an axiom, it does not need a proof to be accepted as true. The Transitive Property of Equality also holds true if and are complex numbers.
Pop Quiz

Which is the Correct Property?

Select the appropriate property for each example.

Quiz Reflexivity Symmetry Transitivity Properties of Equality
Discussion

Isolating the Variable

When solving equations, certain operations usually need to be undone to isolate the variable on one side. For example, consider the following equation.
To isolate the addition of on the left-hand side has to be undone. Here is where inverse operations come into play.
Concept

Inverse Operations

Inverse operations are two operations that undo one another. For example, adding and subtracting are inverse operations because they cancel each other out. This means that adding to any number and then subtracting results in the original number.
Equations are solved by using inverse operations. By the Properties of Equality, any operation performed on one side of an equation must also be performed on the other side of the equation to maintain equality. Consider an example.
This equation can be solved by adding to both sides.
AddEqn

Simplify left-hand side

AddTerms

Add terms

In this case, the subtraction on the left-hand side of the equation can only be eliminated by adding on both sides. The result of applying the Properties of Equality on an equation is an equivalent equation.
Discussion

Addition and Subtraction Properties of Equality

Some of the most commonly used inverse operations are addition and subtraction. These operations fall under the Addition Property of Equality and the Subtraction Property of Equality.

Rule

Addition Property of Equality

Adding the same number to both sides of an equation results in an equivalent equation. Let and be real numbers.

If then

The Addition Property of Equality is an axiom, so it does not need a proof. This property is one of the Properties of Equality that can be used when solving equations. Consider an example.
By adding to both sides of the equation, the variable can be isolated and the solution to the equation can be found.
AddEqn

Simplify left-hand side

AddTerms

Add terms

Rule

Subtraction Property of Equality

Subtracting the same number from both sides of an equation results in an equivalent equation. Let and be real numbers.

If then

The Subtraction Property of Equality is an axiom, so it does not need a proof. This property is one of the Properties of Equality that can be used when solving equations. Consider an example.
By subtracting from both sides of the equation, the variable can be isolated and the solution to the equation can be found.
SubEqn

Simplify left-hand side

SubTerms

Subtract terms

Example

Finding How Much Money Davontay Had

One of Davontay's hobbies is playing the saxophone. He plays in the school band and wants to join a local community band as well. He goes to the music store to buy more reeds for his saxophone since he will be spending more time playing. After spending on reeds, he is left with

saxophone
a Write an equation for this situation.
b How much money did Davontay originally have?

Answer
a
b

Hint
a Use a variable for the original amount.
b Use the Properties of Equality to solve the equation set in Part A.

Solution
a It is possible write this situation as an equation using variables. Let be the original amount of money that Davontay had. It is given that Davontay spent Therefore, after buying the reeds, Davontay had dollars. This expression is the first part of the desired equation.
Then, it is given that Davontay has left after spending The equation can be completed by equating the previous expression with
b To find how much money Davontay had initially, the equation set in Part A needs to be solved for To do so, will be added to both sides of the equation. This is valid by the Addition Property of Equality.
AddEqn

SubTerms

Subtract terms

Therefore, Davontay originally had
Example

Finding the Number of Pairs of Pants

Heichi like collecting a particular brand of clothing. He is inspecting his wardrobe before going to the mall. He notices that he has shirts and more shirts than pairs of pants.

Shirt and Pants
a If is the number of pairs of pants that Heichi has, which equation correctly describes the given situation?
b How many pairs of pants does Heichi have?

Hint
a Use variables to describe the situations.
b Use the Properties of Equality to solve the equation set in Part A.

Solution
a To write an equation that describes the given situation, variables need to be assigned to each item.
Since Heichi has more shirts than pants, the sum of and is equal to
Also, it is given that Heichi has shirts. Therefore, by the Transitive Property of Equality, the equation can be rewritten using this information.
b To find out how many pairs of pants Heichi has, the equation set in Part A needs to be solved for To do so, will be subtracted from both sides of the equation. This is valid by the Subtraction Property of Equality.
SubEqn

SubTerms

Subtract terms

Therefore, Heichi has pairs of pants.
Discussion

Multiplication and Division Properties of Equality

The other most common type of inverse operations are the multiplication and division operations. These are valid by the following properties of equality.

Rule

Multiplication Property of Equality

Given an equation, multiplying each side of the equation by the same number yields an equivalent equation. Let and be real numbers.

If then

The Multiplication Property of Equality is an axiom, so it does not need a proof. This property is one of the Properties of Equality that can be used when solving equations. Consider the following example.
Here, by multiplying both sides of the equation by the variable was isolated and the solution of the equation was found. Note that the Multiplication Property of Equality also holds true if and are complex numbers.
Rule

Division Property of Equality

Dividing each side of an equation by the same nonzero number yields an equivalent equation. Let and be real numbers.

If and then

The Division Property of Equality is an axiom, so it does not need a proof to be accepted as true. This property is one of the Properties of Equality that can be used when solving equations.
As can be observed, by dividing both sides of the equation by the variable was isolated and the solution of the equation was found. Note that the Division Property of Equality also holds true if and are complex numbers.
Example

Distances From Home

LaShay's hobbies include playing golf with her father. She wants to go to the golf course to practice. She knows that her school is one quarter of the way from her house to the golf course.

Golf Emoji

Consider that the school is about miles from LaShay's house.

a If is the distance from LaShay's house to the golf course, which equation correctly describes the situation?
b How far is the golf course from LaShay's house?

Hint
a Use variables for each distance.
b Use the Properties of Equality to solve the equation set in Part A.

Solution
a To write an equation that describes the given situation, variables need to be assigned to each distance.
Since the school is one quarter of the way to the golf course, the value of the division of by is equal to the value of
Also, it is given that the distance to school is miles.
Using the Transitive Property of Equality, it is possible to rewrite the first equation.
b To find out how far is the golf course from LaShay's house, the equation set in Part A needs to be solved. To do so, both sides of the equation will be multiplied by This is valid by the Multiplication Property of Equality.
MultEqn

DenomMultFracToNumber

Multiply

Multiply

Therefore, the golf course is miles away from LaShay's house.
Example

The Number of Chess Pieces

Zain is in the chess club at their school. During one game, their opponent has double the pieces that Zain has. Zain's opponent has pieces left on the board.

Black Chess Pawn
a If is the number of pieces that Zain has, which equation correctly describes the situation?
b How many pieces does Zain have left?

Hint
a Use variables for the number of pieces of each player.
b Use the Properties of Equality to solve the equation set in Part A.

Solution
a An equation can be written if variables are used for the number of pieces each player has left.
Since Zain's opponent has twice the pieces that Zain has, multiplying by is equal to
It is given that the opponent has pieces left. Therefore, is equal to Using the Transitive Property of Equality, it is possible to rewrite the equation.
b To find the number of pieces that Zain has left, both sides of the equation will be divided by This is valid by the Division Property of Equality.
DivEqn

CancelCommonFac

Cancel out common factors

SimpQuot

Simplify quotient

CalcQuot

Calculate quotient

Therefore, Zain has pieces left.
Pop Quiz

Solving Equations Using the Properties of Equality

Find the value of the variable on each equation using the Properties of Equality.

Solve an equation in one step
Closure

Finding the Ages of Family Members

The challenge at the beginning of the lesson gave some information about Zosia's family.

  • Zosia is years old.
  • Zosia's brother is years older than she is.
  • Zosia's brother is half the age of their father.

Then, the following exercises were presented.

a Write equations for the ages of Zosia's brother and father.
b Solve these equations to find their ages.

Answer
a
b Brother's Age: years
Father's Age: years

Hint
a Use variables for the ages of each person.
b Use the Properties of Equality to solve each equation set in Part A.

Solution
a To write equations with the given information, it is convenient to use variables to represent each person's age.
Zosia's brother is years older than Zosia. This means that subtracting from is equal to
Also, it is given that Zosia is years old. Using the Transitive Property of Equality, it is possible to rewrite this equation.
Finally, since Zosia's brother's age is half of their father's age, the dividing by is equal to
Therefore, these are the two equations for the ages of Zosia's brother and father.
b To find the age of Zosia's brother, will be added to both sides of the first equation. This is valid by the Addition Property of Equality.
AddEqn

AddTerms

Add terms

Therefore, Zosia's brother is years old. Then, using the Transitive Property of Equality again, the second equation from Part A can be rewritten.
To find their father's age, both sides of the equation have to be multiplied by This is valid by the Multiplication Property of Equality.
MultEqn

DenomMultFracToNumber

Multiply

Multiply

Consequently, Zosia's father is years old.


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