One-step equations

“Solving an equation” means finding the value of a pronumeral.

e.g. To solve x + 3 = 7 means finding the answer that x = 4

Balance method

The most effective way to solve equations is the balance method.

We perform the same option to both sides of the equation.

x + 3 = 7

-3 -3

x = 4

To get the pronumeral by itself, we perform the inverse operation.

Examples

x - 5 = 2

+5 +5

x = 7

3y = 18 (note: 3y means 3 × y)

÷3 ÷3

y = 6

z ÷ 4 = 7

×4 ×4

z = 28