LITERAL EQUATIONS: A literal equation is one consisting of all letters (or at least mostly letters). The Latin word literalis means "of or belonging to letters or writing," giving the term literal equations its meaning. We can solve literal equations the same way we solve any other equation. We just need to be told which variable (letter) we are solving for. To solve a - 2 = 5 for a, we would add two to each side of the equation. To solve b - r = z for b, we would add r to each side of the equation. What would the resulting solution be ? b = z - r z = b - r r = b - z b = r + z