Solving Equations

What is an Equation?

An equation is a mathematical statement that shows that two expressions are equal. For example, 5 + 3 = 8 is an equation because 5 + 3 is equal to 8.

Solving Equations

Solving equations involves finding the value of the variable (usually represented by a letter such as x or y) that makes the equation true. To solve an equation, you need to perform operations to isolate the variable on one side of the equation.

Steps for Solving Equations

To solve an equation, follow these steps:

Use inverse operations to isolate the variable. For example, if the equation is 2x + 3 = 11, you would subtract 3 from both sides to get 2x = 8.
Once the variable is isolated, perform the necessary operations to find the value of the variable. In the example above, you would divide both sides by 2 to get x = 4.
Check your answer by substituting the value back into the original equation to ensure it makes the equation true.

Practice Problems

Let's solve some practice problems to understand how to solve equations:

3x + 2 = 11
5y - 7 = 18
4a + 6 = 22

Study Tips

To become proficient at solving equations, here are some study tips to keep in mind:

Understand the concept of equality and what it means for two expressions to be equal.
Practice using inverse operations such as addition and subtraction, multiplication and division to isolate the variable in an equation.
Check your answers by substituting the value of the variable back into the original equation.
Use real-life examples to understand the practical application of solving equations.