What is a Literal Equation?

What is a Literal Equation?

Note:

A literal equation is an equation where variables represent known values. Literal equations allow use to represent things like distance, time, interest, and slope as variables in an equation. Using variables instead of words is a real time-saver! Learn about literal equations with this tutorial.

Keywords:

  • literal
  • equation

Background Tutorials

  • Solve real world and mathematical problems involving perimeters of polygons, including finding the perimeter given the side lengths, finding an unknown side length, and exhibiting rectangles with the same perimeter and different areas or with the same area and different perimeters.

  • Evaluate expressions at specific values of their variables. Include expressions that arise from formulas used in real-world problems. Perform arithmetic operations, including those involving whole-number exponents, in the conventional order when there are no parentheses to specify a particular order (Order of Operations).

      • What is a Variable?What is a Variable?

      What is a Variable?

      You can't do algebra without working with variables, but variables can be confusing. If you've ever wondered what variables are, then this tutorial is for you!

  • Use proportional relationships to solve multistep ratio and percent problems.

      • What is the Formula for Simple Interest?What is the Formula for Simple Interest?

      What is the Formula for Simple Interest?

      Interest is found in a bunch of places: savings accounts, mortgages, loans, investments, credit cards, and more! Watch this tutorial and learn how to calculate simple interest!

  • Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving area, volume and surface area of two- and three-dimensional objects composed of triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons, cubes, and right prisms.

  • Use similar triangles to explain why the slope m is the same between any two distinct points on a non-vertical line in the coordinate plane; derive the equation y = mx for a line through the origin and the equation y = mx + b for a line intercepting the vertical axis at b.

      • What's Slope-Intercept Form of a Linear Equation?What's Slope-Intercept Form of a Linear Equation?

      What's Slope-Intercept Form of a Linear Equation?

      When you're learning about linear equations, you're bound to run into the point-slope form of a line. This form is quite useful in creating an equation of a line if you're given the slope and a point on the line. Watch this tutorial, and learn about the point-slope form of a line!

  • Give examples of linear equations in one variable with one solution, infinitely many solutions, or no solutions. Show which of these possibilities is the case by successively transforming the given equation into simpler forms, until an equivalent equation of the form x = a, a = a, or a = b results (where a and b are different numbers).

Further Exploration

  • Rearrange formulas to highlight a quantity of interest, using the same reasoning as in solving equations.

      • How Do You Solve a Formula For a Variable?How Do You Solve a Formula For a Variable?

      How Do You Solve a Formula For a Variable?

      So you're working on a math problem and you have the correct formula. Great! But the variable you need to solve for is not by itself in the formula. Not so great. Don't worry! In this tutorial, you'll learn how to solve a formula for the variable you want!