Solving Multi-Step Equations

Front

What is a multi-step equation?

Back

A multi-step equation is an equation that requires more than one step to solve, often involving operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Front

How do you isolate a variable in an equation?

Back

To isolate a variable, perform inverse operations to both sides of the equation until the variable is alone on one side.

Front

What does it mean to combine like terms?

Back

Combining like terms means to simplify an expression by adding or subtracting terms that have the same variable raised to the same power.

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

How do you solve the equation 3x + 2(4x - 4) = 3?

Back

1. Distribute: 3x + 8x - 8 = 3. 2. Combine like terms: 11x - 8 = 3. 3. Add 8 to both sides: 11x = 11. 4. Divide by 11: x = 1.

Front

What is the solution to the equation 4 + k/2 = -3?

Back

1. Subtract 4 from both sides: k/2 = -7. 2. Multiply both sides by 2: k = -14.

Front

How do you solve the equation -(n - 8) = -2?

Back

1. Distribute: -n + 8 = -2. 2. Subtract 8 from both sides: -n = -10. 3. Multiply by -1: n = 10.

Front

What is the solution to the equation -11 + 3(b + 5) = 7?

Back

1. Distribute: -11 + 3b + 15 = 7. 2. Combine like terms: 3b + 4 = 7. 3. Subtract 4: 3b = 3. 4. Divide by 3: b = 1.

Front

How do you solve the equation x/3 + 10 = 15?

Back

1. Subtract 10 from both sides: x/3 = 5. 2. Multiply both sides by 3: x = 15.

Front

What is the first step in solving a multi-step equation?

Back

The first step is often to simplify both sides of the equation by combining like terms and using the distributive property.