Linear Equations

Learn how to resolve linear equations with this special educational software

We have developed the educational program "Linear Equations", not to replace the math teacher at high schools, but to be a help for the algebra students. Surely they will like to play with the software, and in the meantime they will learn in a playable way to resolve linear equations, which is an important part of mathematics.

Linear equations are equations involving only one variable, like x or y, and nothing complicated like powers or square roots. In the four exercises of the program the following rules are used:

To solve an equation you may
1) divide both parts of the equation by the same number;
2) multiply both parts by the same number;
3) add the same number to both parts;
4) subtract the same number from both parts;
5) you may not divide by zero or multiply;
6) move terms from one part to the other part, but only if you
change the sign of those terms.

In the program you hardly have to use pen and paper, and the exercises are not simply "questions with an answer", but a special kind of "dynamic-game-like-mathematics".

To challenge your knowledge, you can play the falling blocks style math game "Valgebra": By manoeuvring the falling x-terms and numbers, you resolve an equation. But take care.., if you make a mistake, you are penalised by a reduction in the size of the container, which immediately makes it harder to control successive terms precisely! The high scores will surely motivate your motivation to study and practise the theory and exercises to resolve linear equations!

See also our main website http://www.valgetal.com , where you can download more educational math software.

Download demo

Screenshots:

First page of Linear Equations; in the following page the math teacher can switch of the sound, which could be handy if you use the program in a school

Main menu of Linear Equations

You can choose to study or to practise the theory of linear equations

In the program, you can always access the theory of linear equations

Practise the theory of linear equations

You can choose out of four exercises to practise the resolving of linear equations

In exercise 1 you simplify and resolve the linear equations by dividing both parts of the equations by the same number

In exercise 2 you simplify the linear equations by adding to, or subtracting from both parts of the equation the same number, and afterwards you will divide both parts by the same number

The program tells you always what to do, and if you are doing right or wrong

A lot of explanation is given..

Everything is well explained

Now you have to subtract, or add a x-term to both parts of the linear equation

The program tells you when you commit an error

After resolving the linear equations, the program will show you again how you did it

Exercise 3 resembles exercise 2, but is a little bit more difficult

Exercise 4 is very special, here you resolve the linear equations by moving x-terms or numbers from one part of the equations to the other part

When you move a term to the other part of the linear equations, you have to change the sign of it

The program tells you when you commit an error

Because you are moving this x-term to the other side of the linear equation, you have to change the sign of it

Main menu of the falling blocks style math game Valgebra

You move the falling x-terms and numbers with the arrow keys, trying to resolve the linear equation at the bottom of the container

With the page down key you can change the sign of the falling x-terms and numbers

If you commit an error, your falling space will become smaller, and so your thinking time!

The high scores will surely stimulate your motivation to study and practise the theory and the exercises of Linear Equations

Download demo

© Joustra Software, Play and Learn!

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Some more text:

Linear equations are equations involving only one variable, like x or y, and they do not involve anything complicated like powers, square roots, or anything like that. Maybe you think that linear equations are the simplest equations that students encounter, that they are the easiest to learn. But this is not the truth. Linear equations are hard to learn. The reason for this is that linear equations are the first opportunity to practice operating with equations and develop equation solving skills. So if you are frustrated with linear equations, try our educational program Linear Equations.

Some theory:

For example, solve the equation:

4x + 4 = 44

To solve the equation above, first subtract 4 from both sides.

What will remain from the equation is:

4x = 40

Now you have to divide the left and the right part of the equation by 4.

An important rule is: No matter what kind of equation you're dealing with -- linear or otherwise -- whatever you do to the one side, you must do the exact same thing to the other side! Equations are like little children: You have to be totally, totally fair! You cannot subtract 3 from one part of the equation and forget to do it with another part.

Now you simplify the equation further by dividing both parts of the equation by the same number:

4x/4 = 40/4

x = 10

This is the solution of the equation, filling x=10, makes the equation true.

Our educational program Linear Equations can be used at high schools, for students of about 12 to 17 years, and maybe in the last year of elementary schools. Of course the educational software can also be used at home, to be a help during the making of the homework.

Valgebra is a falling blocks style game (like the famous one from Russia), but now you play with falling numbers and x-terms. Down under in a container a linear equation is given. By manoeuvring the falling components to the right, to the left or by changing there sign, you place them above the equation, and try to simplify and to resolve the equation. But take care! If you commit an error, a red line will pop up from down under, and your falling space will become smaller, and so your thinking time. To stimulate your motivation, you can write afterwards your name into the High Scores. Quite a unique math game, that your students will like to play, as do yourself!

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