Creating and Solving Equations

Front

What is an equation?

Back

An equation is a mathematical statement that asserts the equality of two expressions, typically containing variables.

Front

What does it mean to solve an equation?

Back

To solve an equation means to find the value(s) of the variable(s) that make the equation true.

Front

What is a variable in mathematics?

Back

A variable is a symbol, often represented by letters, that stands for an unknown value in an equation.

Front

How do you isolate a variable in an equation?

Back

To isolate a variable, you perform operations to get the variable on one side of the equation and all other terms on the opposite side.

Front

What is the distributive property?

Back

The distributive property states that a(b + c) = ab + ac, allowing you to multiply a single term by each term inside a parenthesis.

Front

What is a linear equation?

Back

A linear equation is an equation of the first degree, meaning it has no exponents greater than one and graphs as a straight line.

Front

What does it mean to combine like terms?

Back

Combining like terms involves adding or subtracting terms that have the same variable raised to the same power.

Front

What is the purpose of checking your solution?

Back

Checking your solution involves substituting the found value back into the original equation to verify that it satisfies the equation.

Front

How can you represent a word problem as an equation?

Back

To represent a word problem as an equation, identify the variables, translate the words into mathematical operations, and set up the equation.

Front

What is a system of equations?

Back

A system of equations is a set of two or more equations with the same variables that can be solved together.