Keep the equation balanced and undo each operation in turn; answers can be negative or fractions.
What you will learn
- Solve one-step and two-step equations
- Solve equations with a bracket
- Give exact answers as fractions
- Check a solution by substituting
Do the same to both sides
An equation is a balance.
Solving it means finding the value of the letter that makes both sides equal: that value is the solution. Whatever you do to one side, do to the other, and undo the operations in reverse order.
- 5x + 7 = 32
- subtract 7: 5x = 25
- divide by 5: x = 5
- check: 5 × 5 + 7 = 32
The rest of this lesson and its 7 practice questions are locked.
In this lesson
- Do the same to both sides
- Negatives and fractions are fine
- Try it: Compare with the solver
7 practice questions, marked as you go; about 20 minutes in all.
Key terms
Solution
In this unit: Linear equations and inequalities
Solve linear equations of every shape, including brackets and fractions, form equations from problems, and solve and show inequalities.
- Solving one- and two-step equations
- Unknowns on both sides and brackets
- Equations with fractions
- Forming and solving equations
- Linear inequalities