1. Solving Literal
Equations

2. Solving equations with more than 1 variable
(Literal Equations)
Sometimes equations have more than one variable.
Such as 2x - y = 5 or ab + c = d or A = bh
Solving for a specific variable requires the exact
same steps as solving for equations with one
variable.
The only difference is rarely do terms disappear.
The just move to the opposite side.

3. Solve for a:
ab + c = d

4. Solve for a:
Identify the term with the variable
ab + c = d for which you are solving.

5. Solve for a:
Identify the term with the variable
ab + c = d for which you are solving.

6. Solve for a:
Identify the term with the variable
ab + c = d for which you are solving.
Move terms outside the circle to the
opposite side.

7. Solve for a:
Identify the term with the variable
ab + c = d for which you are solving.
−c −c Move terms outside the circle to the
opposite side.

8. Solve for a:
Identify the term with the variable
ab + c = d for which you are solving.
−c −c Move terms outside the circle to the
opposite side.
Only like terms can be added or
subtracted. Write both terms
because they are not alike.

9. Solve for a:
Identify the term with the variable
ab + c = d for which you are solving.
−c −c Move terms outside the circle to the
opposite side.
ab = d − c Only like terms can be added or
subtracted. Write both terms
because they are not alike.

10. Solve for a:
Identify the term with the variable
ab + c = d for which you are solving.
−c −c Move terms outside the circle to the
opposite side.
ab = d − c Only like terms can be added or
subtracted. Write both terms
because they are not alike.
The term with ‘a’ is alone but there
is another variable with it. Get the
‘a’ by itself by undoing the
multiplication.

11. Solve for a:
Identify the term with the variable
ab + c = d for which you are solving.
−c −c Move terms outside the circle to the
opposite side.
ab = d − c Only like terms can be added or
subtracted. Write both terms
b b because they are not alike.
The term with ‘a’ is alone but there
is another variable with it. Get the
‘a’ by itself by undoing the
multiplication.

12. Solve for a:
Identify the term with the variable
ab + c = d for which you are solving.
−c −c Move terms outside the circle to the
opposite side.
ab = d − c Only like terms can be added or
subtracted. Write both terms
b b because they are not alike.
The term with ‘a’ is alone but there
is another variable with it. Get the
d−c ‘a’ by itself by undoing the
a= multiplication.
b Nothing can be simplified so this is
the final answer.

13. Solve for h:
1
A = bh
2

14. Solve for h:
1 Identify the term with the
A = bh variable for which you are
2 solving.

15. Solve for h:
1 Identify the term with the
A = bh variable for which you are
2 solving.

16. Solve for h:
1 Identify the term with the
A = bh variable for which you are
2 solving.
No terms outside the circle to
move.

17. Solve for h:
1 Identify the term with the
A = bh variable for which you are
2 solving.
No terms outside the circle to
move.
Make life easier by getting rid of
the fraction by multiplying by 2

18. Solve for h:
1 Identify the term with the
A = bh variable for which you are
2 solving.
1  No terms outside the circle to
2 ( A ) =  bh  2 move.
2 
Make life easier by getting rid of
the fraction by multiplying by 2

19. Solve for h:
1 Identify the term with the
A = bh variable for which you are
2 solving.
1  No terms outside the circle to
2 ( A ) =  bh  2 move.
2 
Make life easier by getting rid of
2A = bh the fraction by multiplying by 2

20. Solve for h:
1 Identify the term with the
A = bh variable for which you are
2 solving.
1  No terms outside the circle to
2 ( A ) =  bh  2 move.
2 
Make life easier by getting rid of
2A = bh the fraction by multiplying by 2
Get the ‘h’ by itself by undoing
the multiplication.

21. Solve for h:
1 Identify the term with the
A = bh variable for which you are
2 solving.
1  No terms outside the circle to
2 ( A ) =  bh  2 move.
2 
Make life easier by getting rid of
2A = bh the fraction by multiplying by 2
Get the ‘h’ by itself by undoing
b b the multiplication.

22. Solve for h:
1 Identify the term with the
A = bh variable for which you are
2 solving.
1  No terms outside the circle to
2 ( A ) =  bh  2 move.
2 
Make life easier by getting rid of
2A = bh the fraction by multiplying by 2
Get the ‘h’ by itself by undoing
b b the multiplication.
2A Nothing can be simplified so
=h this is the final answer.
b

23. Solve for y:
2x − 3y = 5

24. Solve for y:
Identify the term with the variable
2x − 3y = 5 for which you are solving.

25. Solve for y:
Identify the term with the variable
2x − 3y = 5 for which you are solving.

26. Solve for y:
Identify the term with the variable
2x − 3y = 5 for which you are solving.
Move terms outside the circle to
the opposite side.

27. Solve for y:
Identify the term with the variable
2x − 3y = 5 for which you are solving.
−2x −2x Move terms outside the circle to
the opposite side.

28. Solve for y:
Identify the term with the variable
2x − 3y = 5 for which you are solving.
−2x −2x Move terms outside the circle to
the opposite side.
Not like terms. Write both terms.
Typically the variable term is
written first.

29. Solve for y:
Identify the term with the variable
2x − 3y = 5 for which you are solving.
−2x −2x Move terms outside the circle to
the opposite side.
−3y = −2x + 5 Not like terms. Write both terms.
Typically the variable term is
written first.

30. Solve for y:
Identify the term with the variable
2x − 3y = 5 for which you are solving.
−2x −2x Move terms outside the circle to
the opposite side.
−3y = −2x + 5 Not like terms. Write both terms.
Typically the variable term is
written first.
Get coefficient of y as 1.

31. Solve for y:
Identify the term with the variable
2x − 3y = 5 for which you are solving.
−2x −2x Move terms outside the circle to
the opposite side.
−3y = −2x + 5 Not like terms. Write both terms.
−3 −3 Typically the variable term is
written first.
Get coefficient of y as 1.

32. Solve for y:
Identify the term with the variable
2x − 3y = 5 for which you are solving.
−2x −2x Move terms outside the circle to
the opposite side.
−3y = −2x + 5 Not like terms. Write both terms.
−3 −3 Typically the variable term is
written first.
Get coefficient of y as 1.
The -3 divides into both terms on
the right side.

33. Solve for y:
Identify the term with the variable
2x − 3y = 5 for which you are solving.
−2x −2x Move terms outside the circle to
the opposite side.
−3y = −2x + 5 Not like terms. Write both terms.
−3 −3 Typically the variable term is
written first.
−2 5
y= x+ Get coefficient of y as 1.
−3 −3 The -3 divides into both terms on
the right side.

34. Solve for y:
Identify the term with the variable
2x − 3y = 5 for which you are solving.
−2x −2x Move terms outside the circle to
the opposite side.
−3y = −2x + 5 Not like terms. Write both terms.
−3 −3 Typically the variable term is
written first.
−2 5
y= x+ Get coefficient of y as 1.
−3 −3 The -3 divides into both terms on
the right side.
Simplify. Be sure to follow the
rules for signed numbers!

35. Solve for y:
Identify the term with the variable
2x − 3y = 5 for which you are solving.
−2x −2x Move terms outside the circle to
the opposite side.
−3y = −2x + 5 Not like terms. Write both terms.
−3 −3 Typically the variable term is
written first.
−2 5
y= x+ Get coefficient of y as 1.
−3 −3 The -3 divides into both terms on
the right side.
2 5 Simplify. Be sure to follow the
y= x−
3 3 rules for signed numbers!