Literal Equations

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Literal Equations Applications in Geometry

• 1.6
• SSC 105

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Application Involving Perimeter
The length of a room is 4 feet more than its
width. If the perimeter of the room is 120 feet,
find the dimensions of the room.
Let x width
So the length would be x 4
x x x 4 x 4 120
2 widths
2 lengths
Solve !
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Application Involving Angles

• Two angles are supplementary, and the measure of
  one is 16º less than 3 times the other. Find
  their measures.

(first angle) (second angle) 180
1st angle X 2nd angle 3x - 16
Answer The angles are 49º and 131º.
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Literal Equations
Literal equations (or formulas) are equations
that contain several variables. For example,
the formula for the
perimeter of a rectangle is an example of a
literal equation. In this equation, P is
expressed in terms of L and W. However, in
science and other branches of applied
mathematics, formulas may be more useful in
alternative forms. For example, the formula can
be manipulated to solve for either L or W.
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Solving Literal Equations

• To solve literal equations for a specified
  variable, use the same properties as you would
  for linear equations in one variable.

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More examples
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