how do i go about solving linear equations?

y=mx+b is the equation of a linear equation  m is the slope and b is the piont where the line crosses y

It would be really difficult to make you understand about easier way of solving linear equation in this short space.you should,rather,go through your text-book and take the help of a tutor to understand the process that you find easier.And one last thing I would like to say...when you understand the process/es of solving any mathematical problem...it automatically becomes easy.

There are entire classes called "Linear Algebra" that deal with solving systems of linear equations.  Though if there aren't too many to deal with, you can use substitution (solve one equation for one of the variables, then plug this in to one of the other equations and solve for another variable, etc.).

You asked how to solve "a" linear equation, but solving one single linear equation isn't all that different from solving any other single equation.

As for solving polynomials, it's algebraically impossible to solve them beyond a certain order.  But for quadratics (2nd order) you can use methods like completing the square or the quadratic formula.  For others, you might be able to try factoring out binomials ("(x-1)", etc.).  Fortunately there are approximation methods for getting near-accurate solutions for high-degree polynomials.

y=mx+b is the one form for linear equations
there is also a standard form ax+by+z=0
try the second one and see what u get