3 Ways To Solve Literal Equations - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Solve Literal Equations PDF download Download Article Co-authored by JohnK Wright V

Last Updated: March 12, 2026 References

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  • Rearranging Geometric Formulas
    • |
  • Rearranging Equations of Lines
    • |
  • Solving Sample Problems
    • |
  • Q&A
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by JohnK Wright V. JohnK Wright V is a Certified Math Teacher at Bridge Builder Academy in Plano, Texas. With over 20 years of teaching experience, he is a Texas SBEC Certified 8-12 Mathematics Teacher. He has taught in six different schools and has taught pre-algebra, algebra 1, geometry, algebra 2, pre-calculus, statistics, math reasoning, and math models with applications. He was a Mathematics Major at Southeastern Louisiana and he has a Bachelor of Science from The University of the State of New York (now Excelsior University) and a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems from Boston University. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 97,337 times.

A literal equation is an equation that has all variables or multiple variables. To solve a literal equation, you need to solve for a determined variable by using algebra to isolate it.[1] You will often need to do this when rearranging geometric formulas or when solving linear equations. In order to solve literal equations, use the same algebraic principles you would use to solve linear equations.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Rearranging Geometric Formulas

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  1. Step 1 Determine which variable you need to isolate. 1 Determine which variable you need to isolate. Isolating a variable means getting the variable on one side of an equation by itself, explains Mathematics Educator Zina Savva.[2] This information should be given to you, or you can figure it out based on what information you know you will be given.[3]
    • For example, you might be told to solve the area of a triangle formula for h {\displaystyle h} . Or, you might know that you have the area and base of the triangle, so you need to solve for the height. So, you need to rearrange the formula and isolate the h {\displaystyle h} variable.
  2. Step 2 Use algebra to solve for the desired variable. 2 Use algebra to solve for the desired variable. Use inverse operations to cancel variables on one side of the equation and move them to the other side. Keep in mind the following inverse operations:
    • Multiplication and division.
    • Addition and subtraction.
    • Squaring and taking a square root.
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  3. Step 3 Keep the equation balanced. 3 Keep the equation balanced. Whatever you do to one side of the equation, you must also do to the other side. Savva says this ensures that your equation remains true, and in the process you are moving variables from one side to the other as needed.[4]
    • For example, to solve the area of a triangle formula ( A = 1 2 b h {\displaystyle A={\frac {1}{2}}bh} ) for h {\displaystyle h} :
      • Cancel the fraction by multiplying each side by 2: A × 2 = 2 × 1 2 b h {\displaystyle A\times 2=2\times {\frac {1}{2}}bh} 2 A = b h {\displaystyle 2A=bh}
      • Isolate h {\displaystyle h} by dividing each side by b {\displaystyle b} : 2 A b = b h b {\displaystyle {\frac {2A}{b}}={\frac {bh}{b}}} 2 A b = h {\displaystyle {\frac {2A}{b}}=h}
    • Rearrange the formula, if desired: h = 2 A b {\displaystyle h={\frac {2A}{b}}}
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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Rearranging Equations of Lines

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  1. Step 1 Remember the slope-intercept form for the equation of a line. 1 Remember the slope-intercept form for the equation of a line. The slope-intercept form is y = m x + b {\displaystyle y=mx+b} , where y {\displaystyle y} equals the y-coordinate of a point on the line, x {\displaystyle x} equals the x-coordinate of that same point, m {\displaystyle m} equals the slope of the line, and b {\displaystyle b} equals the y-intercept.[5]
  2. Step 2 Remember the standard form of a line. 2 Remember the standard form of a line. The standard form is A x + B y = C {\displaystyle Ax+By=C} , where x {\displaystyle x} and y {\displaystyle y} are the coordinates of a point on the line, A {\displaystyle A} is a positive integer, and B {\displaystyle B} and C {\displaystyle C} are integers.[6]
  3. Step 3 Use algebra to isolate the appropriate variable. 3 Use algebra to isolate the appropriate variable. Use inverse operations to move variables from one side of the equation to the other side. Remember to keep the equation balanced, which means that whatever you do to one side of the equation, you must also do to the other side.[7]
    • For example, you might have the equation of a line 3 x + 2 y = 4 {\displaystyle 3x+2y=4} . This is in standard form. If you need to find the y-intercept of the line, you need to rearrange the formula to slope-intercept form by isolating the y {\displaystyle y} variable:[8]
      • Subtract 3 x {\displaystyle 3x} from both sides of the equation: 3 x + 2 y − 3 x = 4 − 3 x {\displaystyle 3x+2y-3x=4-3x} 2 y = 4 − 3 x {\displaystyle 2y=4-3x} .
      • Divide both sides by 2 {\displaystyle 2} : 2 y 2 = 4 − 3 x 2 {\displaystyle {\frac {2y}{2}}={\frac {4-3x}{2}}} y = 4 − 3 x 2 {\displaystyle y={\frac {4-3x}{2}}}
    EXPERT TIP Joseph Meyer

    Joseph Meyer

    Math Teacher Joseph Meyer is a High School Math Teacher based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is an educator at City Charter High School, where he has been teaching for over 7 years. Joseph is also the founder of Sandbox Math, an online learning community dedicated to helping students succeed in Algebra. His site is set apart by its focus on fostering genuine comprehension through step-by-step understanding (instead of just getting the correct final answer), enabling learners to identify and overcome misunderstandings and confidently take on any test they face. He received his MA in Physics from Case Western Reserve University and his BA in Physics from Baldwin Wallace University. Joseph Meyer Joseph Meyer Math Teacher

    To solve an equation for a variable like "x," you need to manipulate the equation to isolate x. Use techniques like the distributive property, combining like terms, factoring, adding or subtracting the same number, and multiplying or dividing by the same non-zero number to isolate "x" and find the answer.

  4. Step 4 Reorder the variables and constants, if necessary. 4 Reorder the variables and constants, if necessary. If you are changing an equation to slope-intercept or standard form, rearrange the variables, coefficients, and constants so that they follow the correct formula.[9]
    • For example, to change y = 4 − 3 x 2 {\displaystyle y={\frac {4-3x}{2}}} to the correct slope-intercept formula, you need to switch the order of the number in the numerator, then simplify: y = − 3 x + 4 2 {\displaystyle y={\frac {-3x+4}{2}}} y = − 3 2 x + 2 {\displaystyle y={\frac {-3}{2}}x+2} Now, since the formula is in proper slope-intercept form, it is easy to identify the y-intercept as 2.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Solving Sample Problems

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  1. Step 1 Solve this equation for b {\displaystyle b} . 1 Solve this equation for b {\displaystyle b} . R = 5 b d − 6 b a {\displaystyle R=5bd-6ba} .
    • Factor out the b {\displaystyle b} : R = b ( 5 d − 6 a ) {\displaystyle R=b(5d-6a)} .
    • Isolate the b {\displaystyle b} by dividing each side by the expression in parentheses: R 5 d − 6 a = b ( 5 d − 6 a ) 5 d − 6 a {\displaystyle {\frac {R}{5d-6a}}={\frac {b(5d-6a)}{5d-6a}}} R 5 d − 6 a = b {\displaystyle {\frac {R}{5d-6a}}=b}
  2. Step 2 Solve the circumference of a circle formula for the radius. 2 Solve the circumference of a circle formula for the radius. The formula is C = 2 π r {\displaystyle C=2\pi {r}} [10]
    • Understand what each variable stands for. In this formula, C {\displaystyle C} is the circumference, and r {\displaystyle r} is the radius. So you need to isolate the r {\displaystyle r} to solve for the radius.
    • Isolate the r {\displaystyle r} by dividing both sides of the equation by 2 π {\displaystyle 2\pi } : C 2 π = 2 π r 2 π {\displaystyle {\frac {C}{2\pi }}={\frac {2\pi {r}}{2\pi }}} C 2 π = r {\displaystyle {\frac {C}{2\pi }}=r}
    • If desired, reverse the order of the equation for standard form: r = C 2 π {\displaystyle r={\frac {C}{2\pi }}} .
  3. Step 3 Rewrite this equation of a line in standard form. 3 Rewrite this equation of a line in standard form. y = 1 2 x + 5 {\displaystyle y={\frac {1}{2}}x+5}
    • Recall that standard form is A x + B y = C {\displaystyle Ax+By=C} .
    • Cancel the fraction by multiplying each side of the equation by 2: 2 y = 2 ( 1 2 x + 5 ) {\displaystyle 2y=2({\frac {1}{2}}x+5)} 2 y = x + 10 {\displaystyle 2y=x+10}
    • Subtract x {\displaystyle x} from both sides of the equation: 2 y − x = x + 10 − x {\displaystyle 2y-x=x+10-x} 2 y − x = 10 {\displaystyle 2y-x=10}
    • Rearrange the y {\displaystyle y} and x {\displaystyle x} variables so that they are in the standard form: − x + 2 y = 10 {\displaystyle -x+2y=10} .
    • Multiply both sides by − 1 {\displaystyle -1} , since A {\displaystyle A} should be a positive integer for standard form:[11] − 1 ( − x + 2 y ) = − 1 ( 10 ) {\displaystyle -1(-x+2y)=-1(10)} x − 2 y = − 10 {\displaystyle x-2y=-10}
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  • Question How do I solve 3x + w - r = y? Donagan Donagan Top Answerer Because you're working with four variables, you would need a total of four separate equations, each containing those variables, in order to find their values. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 5
  • Question In the equation Perimeter = 2(L + W), what is L? Donagan Donagan Top Answerer L is the length of whatever figure you're working with. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 7 Helpful 6
  • Question For the equation 12am = 4, how do I solve for a? Donagan Donagan Top Answerer Divide both sides of the equation by 12m. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 11
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.chilimath.com/lessons/intermediate-algebra/literal-equations/
  2. ↑ Zina Savva. Mathematics Educator. Expert Interview
  3. ↑ https://www.purplemath.com/modules/solvelit.htm
  4. ↑ Zina Savva. Mathematics Educator. Expert Interview
  5. ↑ http://www.coolmath.com/algebra/08-lines/07-equations-of-lines-slope-intercept-form-01
  6. ↑ https://virtualnerd.com/algebra-1/linear-equations-solve/isolate-variables-formulas-examples/formulas-examples/isolate-variable-from-formula
  7. ↑ https://virtualnerd.com/algebra-1/linear-equations-solve/isolate-variables-formulas-examples/formulas-examples/isolate-variable-from-formula
  8. ↑ http://www.purplemath.com/modules/solvelit2.htm
  9. ↑ https://virtualnerd.com/algebra-1/linear-equations-solve/isolate-variables-formulas-examples/formulas-examples/isolate-variable-from-formula
More References (2)
  1. ↑ http://www.mathopenref.com/circumference.html
  2. ↑ http://www.algebralab.org/studyaids/studyaid.aspx?file=algebra1_5-5.xml

About This Article

JohnK Wright V Co-authored by: JohnK Wright V Texas Certified Math Teacher This article was co-authored by JohnK Wright V. JohnK Wright V is a Certified Math Teacher at Bridge Builder Academy in Plano, Texas. With over 20 years of teaching experience, he is a Texas SBEC Certified 8-12 Mathematics Teacher. He has taught in six different schools and has taught pre-algebra, algebra 1, geometry, algebra 2, pre-calculus, statistics, math reasoning, and math models with applications. He was a Mathematics Major at Southeastern Louisiana and he has a Bachelor of Science from The University of the State of New York (now Excelsior University) and a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems from Boston University. This article has been viewed 97,337 times. 50 votes - 42% Co-authors: 9 Updated: March 12, 2026 Views: 97,337 Categories: Algebra Article SummaryX

To solve literal equations, start by rearranging the equation based on the value you're solving for. For example, if you're solving for the height in the equation A equals 1/2bh, multiply 1/2bh by 2 in order to cancel out the fraction and end up with the bh. Next, multiply the other side by 2 to get 2A equals bh, since you need to do the same operation on both sides to keep the equation balanced. Then, isolate the variable h by rewriting the equation as h equals 2A divided by b. To learn how to rearrange equations of a line, keep reading! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. JohnK Wright V Co-authored by: JohnK Wright V Texas Certified Math Teacher 50 votes - 42% Click a star to vote 42% of people told us that this article helped them. Co-authors: 9 Updated: March 12, 2026 Views: 97,337

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