Solving Equations with Variables on One Side

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What is an equation?

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

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What does it mean to solve an equation?

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

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What is a variable in mathematics?

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A variable is a symbol, often a letter, that represents an unknown value in an equation.

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Subtract 7 from both sides to isolate the term with the variable.

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How do you isolate a variable in an equation?

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To isolate a variable, you perform inverse operations to get the variable alone on one side of the equation.

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c = 3.

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Add 5 to both sides to isolate x.

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x = -4.

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What does it mean to perform inverse operations?

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Inverse operations are operations that undo each other, such as addition and subtraction or multiplication and division.

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x = 5.