One-Step Equations

In mathematics, an equation is a statement that two expressions are equal. In a one-step equation, there is only one operation that needs to be performed to find the value of the variable.

Example:

Solve for x: 3x + 7 = 16

To solve this one-step equation, we need to isolate x. We can do this by subtracting 7 from both sides of the equation:

3x = 16 - 7

3x = 9

Now, we can solve for x by dividing both sides by 3:

x = 3

Two-Step Equations

In a two-step equation, two operations need to be performed to find the value of the variable.

Example:

Solve for y: 4y - 8 = 12

First, we can add 8 to both sides of the equation to isolate 4y:

4y = 12 + 8

4y = 20

Then, to solve for y, we divide both sides by 4:

y = 5

Study Guide

Here are some steps to keep in mind when solving one and two-step equations:

1. Identify the operations in the equation.
2. Perform the inverse operation to isolate the variable.
3. If it's a two-step equation, perform the second operation to solve for the variable.
4. Check your answer by plugging it back into the original equation.

Practice solving equations with different numbers and variables to improve your skills.

Remember, the key to solving equations is to perform the same operation on both sides of the equation to keep it balanced.