How to Use Linear Equations in Everyday Life

Mathematics is used in everyday life, although most of the time you won't even realize you are using it.
Everything from dividing a cake into equal portions to determining the sale price of an item on the
clearance rack requires mathematics. One of the most commonly used mathematical tools is linear
equations. Linear equations permit their users to solve complex and flexible problems with a set of
simple equations. Those things that never change in the equation are called constants. The things that do
change are variables and are traditionally represented by letters.

Instructions

1 Calculate your cab fare for a trip home by forming a linear equation. The boarding rate that the driver
requires is a constant; the meter rate is also a constant, but must be multiplied by how far you went. So, if
the meter rate is $2, the boarding rate is $4 and time is represented by "x", the linear equation would be
2x + 4 = cab fare.
2 Calculate your fuel efficiency. Let's say your car gets 40 miles to the gallon when you travel below 50
miles per hour and 30 miles per gallon when you travel above 50 miles per hour. Determine how much
fuel you'll need to drive somewhere by calculating how often you'll travel under and over 50 miles per
hour. So the equation could be a/30 + b/40 = fuel needed.
3 Determine how much weight you'll lose by creating a calorie-burning equation. For instance, you'll burn
120 calories per hour of walking. So multiply 120 calories by the number of hours you walked and you'll
determine how many calories you burned. If you walked less than 1 hour, use the fraction for how long
you did walk, such as one-quarter hour. The equation for this would simply be 120x = burnt calories.


Things for Which You Can Use a Linear Equation
Linear equations, or equations with variables raised to the first power only, describe linear
relationships between those variables. A linear relationship, if plotted on a graph, would result in
a straight line. When one or more of the variables in a linear relationship are unknown, they can
be identified or approximated using linear equations. This has a wide range of applications, from
academic problems to those in everyday life.

Physics
Many physical quantities are linearly related. For example, consider Newtons second law of motion,
which states that force is equal to mass multiplied by acceleration. This is a linear relationship, expressed
as F = MA. This linear equation can be used to solve for any of the three variables, given the other two are
known or can be derived.
Grocery Shopping
Linear equations can be used when grocery shopping to calculate
the right amount of food to buy. One such equation could be
(Quantity to purchase) = (Number of meals) (Number of
people) (Quantity per meal) (Quantity already purchased). Using
this equation, you could figure out how many apples you need to
buy, if your three children each have an apple in their lunch five
days a week, and you currently have four apples in the refrigerator:
(Quantity to purchase) = (5 meals) (3 kids) (1 apple each) (4 apples in the fridge) = 11 apples.
Population Estimates
Some simple population changes can be modeled with linear equations. Consider, for example, a college
that accepts 2,000 new students every summer, and which loses 25% of its student body every year due
to graduation or drop-outs. The student population might be modeled as (Population next year) =
.75(Population this year) + 2,000. This linear equation could be used to make decisions about the
colleges needs for dorm rooms, teachers, or classroom space, based on the expected changes to the size
of the student body.
Profits and Pricing
In economics, linear equations can be used to calculate profits from costs and revenue. In a simple case,
profit may be considered as revenue minus costs, or P = R C. Revenue could be calculated as the product
of the quantity of items sold and their price, or R = (items) (price). Costs can be calculated by considering
the sum of the fixed costs and the cost per item, or C = (fixed) + (cost) (items). Putting these two linear
equations into the profit equation, the result is Profit = (items) (price) ((fixed) + (cost) (items)). This
equation could be used to calculate expected profits, or to determine pricing requirements or cost cuts
needed to reach a desired profit, for a given quantity of product sold.


Examples of Linear Equations Used in Real Life

The value of linear equations may be appreciated more when applied to real life examples. Linear
equations model the relationship between two variables and the effect that a change on one variable has
on the other.
Demand Curve
The demand curve illustrates the relationship between the price of a product and the quantity consumers
are willing to buy. At lower prices, consumers may be willing to buy more but buy less as prices increase.
Supply Curve
The supply curve shows the relationship between prices and quantities of products businesses are
willing to produce. Businesses determine how much of their products to sell at a price that maximizes
profits.

Interest Rates
o Linear equations may also model the relationship between investment and interest rates which show
that as interest rates increase the general level of investment will decrease and increase as interest rates
decrease.
Foreign Currencies
o You can also compare currency exchange rates with a linear equation to see how changes in the value of
the Argentine peso affect the U.S. dollar.
Travel
o Distances may also be modeled as a linear equation to show the relationship between changes in speed
and time. A change in one these variables affects the distance traveled.

How Are Linear Equations Used in Everyday Life?
Day in and day out, people add and subtract. If you have a pie to share, you try to make sure it is equally
divided. When you are running late for an appointment, you mentally calculate the distance and the
speed at which the traffic is moving to get an estimate of how late you will be. You also use linear
equations, an integral part of arithmetic, during your daily routine.

Linear Equations
Linear equations contain one or two variables. The word "linear" comes from the fact that the graph of
the equation is a straight line. For example: x+y=10 is a linear equation with two variablesx and y. A
variable, as opposed to a constant, can take on different values, depending on the equation.
Linear Equations in Everyday Life
People tend not to think in terms of equations and formulas in their daily lives. They use language to
describe the situation. But words can be translated into the language of mathematics. Take a very simple
example: A mother has to divide six apples among three children. Effortlessly she reaches the conclusion
that each child gets two apples. What she has used is the mathematical function of division to reach the
answer: 6/3=2.

Calculating Travel Times
Suppose your office is 30 miles away from home. You have to get there at 8 a.m., and know that the traffic
is moving at 60 miles per hour. To find out the time you should leave home, translate the word problem
into an equation: time taken = distance divided by the rate of travel. So t (time) = d (distance)/r (rate),
and t=30/60. So t=1/2 or half an hour. To reach the office at 8 a.m., you should leave at 7:30 a.m.
Converting Hours to Minutes
How many minutes are there in four hours? Let x = the number of hours, and y = the number of minutes.
By definition, there are 60 minutes in one hour. So you can write a linear equation to describe this
relationship: y = 60x. The number of minutes equals 60 times the number of hours. For example, let x = 4.
Then plug the number into the linear equation to get y = 60*4. So y = 240 minutes.
Weights and Measures
Say your recipe calls for 100 grams of flour, but you can only weigh in ounces. You use a mathematical
formula to convert grams to ounces. Or you measure the driveway to figure out how much concrete you
will need to pave it. Budgeting, investing, sewing, cooking -- math is everywhere.

References:-
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