One and Two Step Equations

Solving Equations

Solving Equations with 1 or 2 steps

To solve an equation you have to set out to meet one very important goal.

The variable(letter) has to be by itself on one side of the = sign and all the constants(numbers) should be on the other side

Equations must maintain balence or they fall apart.

if we do an operation to one side of the equal sign, we must do the same operation to the other side.

The original problem is 5 + x = 3

we need that 5 to goto the other side.

The opposite operator of + 5 is - 5.

Notice how when we subtract -5 from both sides, 5-5 on the left becomes 0. this achieves our goal of getting x by itself.

notice it says, m divided by 4 on the left side, to get m by itself we use the opposite operator. multiply is the opposite of division. if we multiply both sides by 4 that will get the m by itself on the left. 

Look at these four examples and notice how the opposite operation is used to get the variable by itself.

get ready to try it yourself!

Multiple Choice

What will you do to solve this equation?

X + 6 = 3

• subtract 6 from both sides

• add 6 to both sides

• subtract 3 from both sides

• add 3 to both sides

Multiple Choice

What will you do to solve this equation?

4x = 16

• divide both sides by 4

• multiply both sides by 4

• subtract 4 from both sides

• divide both sides by 16

why do you learn math? so you can use it to do more math.

Multiple Choice

3x+1=7

• 2

• $$\frac{8}{3}$$

• 3

• 8

Multiple Choice

Solve for x $$-4+\frac{x}{3}=-4$$  

 

• 0

• 1

• -3

• 3

Multiple Choice

$$4-10n=14$$  

Solve

• 1

• -1

• 6

• -6

Poll

Rate your current confidence when solving basic 1-2 step equations

• I feel very confident! I can help others.

• I usually get the answer right but I’m not very confident.

• I know the steps but I usually make a mistake along the way.

• I really don’t know what I’m doing.

• Photo math counts, right?!