Solving Equations with Variables on Both Sides

What is the difference between variables and constants?

• Variables are numbers and constants are letters.

• Variables are letters and constants are numbers.

• Variables and constants are the same.

She said "Pick the side with the greater coefficient of variable terms" to be the side where you place all the variables.  Between 8x and 5x, think about which coefficient is bigger.  That means that you should rearrange the equation so that the variables will go on which side of the equal sign?

• 8x is bigger than 5x, so the variables should go on the left.

• 5x is bigger than 8x, so the variables should go on the right.

   

  If you want to pick this answer, change your mind and pick the other answer.

Continue solving.  What is the solution to this equation?

• x = 3

• x = 21

• x = 7

• x = 6

Continue solving this equation on your own.  What is the solution for x?

• x = -6

• x = 6

• x = -1/2

• x = 2

What is (-13 - 17)?

• 4

• -30

• 30

What is the final answer? 

• 6

• -6

Which side should be the variable side?  Notice the coefficients (numbers multiplied by each variable)

• Left side of the equal sign

• Right side of the equal sign

Now that you've chosen the right side of the equal sign to be the variable side, what is the next step?

• Add 16 to both sides of the equal sign

• Add 4x to both sides of the equal sign

Finish solving this.  What is the solution?

• x = -4

• x = 4

• x = -8/6 or -1 and 1/3

What is the final answer?  x=

• 4

• -4

• 6

• -6