2.

2 The
Multiplication
Property of
Equality
Objective 1

Use the multiplication property of

equality.

Slide 2.2-3
Use the multiplication property of equality.
The addition property of equality is not enough to solve some equations, such
as
3x  2  17.
Since the coefficient of x is 3 rather than 1, the multiplication property of
equality is needed to change the equation to the form x = a number, after the 2
is subtracted from both sides of the equation and we are left with
3x  15.
Multiplication Property of Equality
If A, B, and C (C ≠ 0) represent real numbers, then the equations
A  B and AC  BC are
equivalent equations.

That is, we can multiply each side of an equation by the same nonzero
number without changing the solution.

Slide 2.2-4
Use the multiplication property of equality. (cont’d)

This property can be used to solve 3x  15 . The3x on the left must be changed
1
to 1x, or x. To isolate x, we multiply each side of the equation by , the
3
reciprocal of 3, which will result in a coefficient of 1 when multiplied.
1 3
3   1
3 3

Just as the addition property of equality permits subtracting the same

number from each side of an equation, the multiplication property of
equality permits dividing each side of an equation by the same number.

DO NOT, however, divide each side by a variable, since the variable might be
equal to 0.

It is usually easier to multiply on each side if the coefficient of the variable is a

fraction, and divide on each side if the coefficient is an integer.

Slide 2.2-5
CLASSROOM Applying the Multiplication Property of Equality
EXAMPLE 1
Solve.

15x  75

Solution: Check:

15 x 75 15(5)  75

15 15 75  75
x 5

The solution set is 5.

Slide 2.2-6
CLASSROOM Applying the Multiplication Property of Equality
EXAMPLE 2
Solve.

8x  20

Solution: Check:

8 x 20 8x  20

8 8  5
5 8     2 0
x  2
2
20  20
 5
The solution set is   .
 2

Slide 2.2-7
CLASSROOM Solving an Equation with Decimals
EXAMPLE 3
Solve.

0.7 x  5.04.

Solution: Check:

0.7 x 5.04 0.7 x  5.04


0.7 0.7 0.7  7.2  5.04
x  7.2 5.04  5.04

The solution set is 7.2.

Slide 2.2-8
CLASSROOM Applying the Multiplication Property of Equality
EXAMPLE 4
Solve.
x
 6
4
Solution: Check:

x x
 4   6  4   6
4 4
x  24 24
 6
4
6  6
The solution set is 24.
Slide 2.2-9
CLASSROOM Applying the Multiplication Property of Equality
EXAMPLE 5

Solve.

2
 t  12
3
Solution: Check:

 3 2  3 2
    t  12     t  12
 2 3  2 3
t  18 2
 (18)  12
3
12  12
The solution set is 18.
Slide 2.2-10
Using the multiplication property of equality when the
coefficient of the variable is −1.
In Section 2.1, we obtained the equation  x  17.We reasoned that
since this equation says that the additive inverse (or opposite) of x is −17,
then x must equal 17.

We can also use the multiplication property of equality to obtain the same
result as detailed in the next example.

Slide 2.2-11
CLASSROOM Applying the Multiplication Property of Equality
EXAMPLE 6
Solve.

p  7

Solution: Check:

1  p  7 p  7
1 1 p   7  1 ( 7)  7
1(1)  p  7 77
1 p  7
p  7
The solution set is 7 .
Slide 2.2-12
Objective 2

Simplify, and then use the multiplication

property of equality.

Slide 2.2-13
CLASSROOM Combing Like Terms When Solving
EXAMPLE 7
Solve.

4r  9r  20

Solution: Check:

5r  20 4r  9r  20
5r 20 4(4)  9(4)  20

5 5 16  (36)  20
r  4 20  20

The solution set is 4.

Slide 2.2-14