One-Step Equations Part 1

Equations: Learn

An equation is a mathematical statement that has two expressions separated by an equal sign. The expression on the left side of the equal sign has the same value as the expression on the right side.

One or both of the expressions may contain variables. Solving an equation means manipulating the expressions and finding the value of the variables. The goal is to form the equation into an "x = something" format.

To keep an equation equal, we must do exactly the same thing to each side of the equation. If we add (or subtract) a quantity from one side, we must add (or subtract) that same quantity from the other side. If we multiply (or divide) a quantity from one side, then we must multiply (or divide) that same quantity from the other side.

An example might be: x - 3 = 5. We want to find the value of x, so we need to get the minus 3 away from it. The opposite of -3 is +3, so we add 3 to both sides of the equation:

x - 3 = 5
+ 3 +3
x = 8

Another example might be 7x = 21. When a number and variables are next to each other with no operator between them, we assume the operation is multiplication. Since this 7 is being multiplied by the x, we need to divide to get x all alone. Don't forget to divide it from both sides!

7 x = 21
÷7 ÷7
x = 3

Equations: Practice

Solve for x.

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If ,

then x =

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