- You need to write down and take time to do the steps to solve these
- When you add or subtract something from both sides of the equal sign, you do it ONCE to each side
- When you multiply or divide both sides by something, you do it to every terms in the equation (usually, we only have term on each side, but just in case you go in a different order)
- Only combine LIKE terms
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Question 1
1.
What do you get when you subtract x from 5x?
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Question 2
2.
What do you get when you subtract 6 from 5x?
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Question 3
3.
Consider the equation 2x+8=4x+6
What equation would result if I subtract 4x from both sides of the equation?
To solve equations with variables on both sides, you need to get the variables (often x's) all on one side, and the constants (numbers with no variables) to the other side of the equal sign. You do this by adding or subtracting terms from both sides.
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Question 4
4.
What would you do to this equation to get the x's on the left (<-) side of the equation?
Here are the first steps to solving the equation from #4
5x + 1 = 3x - 9
-3x -3x
2x + 1 = -9
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Question 5
5.
Now you have a 2-step equation, which you should be pretty comfortable solving. What do you get when you solve 2x+1=-9
Those the basics of solving equations with variables on both sides. Some equations may have distribution or like terms on one or both sides. To solve equations like that, here are the general steps:
1. Distribute to get rid of parentheses
2. Combine like terms on each side- don't cross the equal sign!
3. Add or subtract to get the variables (x's) to one side of the equation (it doesn't actually matter which side)
4. Add or subtract to get the constants to the other side of the equation
5. Multiply or divide to isolate the variable
The video below shows Step 3 as taking away the smaller variable from both sides, but that is just one way to do it. As long as you do the same thing to both sides, you're ok.
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Question 6
6.
Solve the equation.
You may also complete your work on paper or on a whiteboard and upload a clear picture of it to the "Show your work" board.