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How to Solve Negative Variables

Linear equations are basic equations that contain only variables, or letters representing unknown values, and numbers. Simple linear equations containing only one variable are solved by using algebra to isolate the variable on one side of the equal sign. This results is an answer for the value of that variable. The variable itself, in the final answer, can only be positive since the letter itself is just a placeholder and not an actual quantity of its own.

Instructions

- 1
  Use the division property of equality, which states that if a = b then a/c = b/c, to remove the negative sign in front of a variable and finish the solution of a linear equation.
- 2
  Solve 8x = 7x + 9. Subtract 7x from both sides to get all of the variable terms on one side: 8x - 7x = 7x - 7x + 9 becomes -1x = 9. Note that this can also be written as -x = 9.
- 3
  Remove the negative sign from the variable by dividing -1 from both sides of the equation: -x / -1 = 9 / -1 becomes x = -9.

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