Equations
In order to understand how to solve one-step equations, you first need to recall the four basic operations used in math: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Then remember what the word equation means. Equation comes from "equal" so both sides are the same. Let's look at an example for each one of the basic operations.
Addition:
If x+4=9
then x+4 has the same value as 9.
Subtraction:
If y-5=13
then y-5 has the same value as 13.
Multiplication:
If 2j=16
then 2j has the same value as 16.
Division:
If w/3=7
then w/3 has the same value as 7.
Because of the property of equality each of these can be written with the variable on the right. For example: 9=x+4, 13=y-5, 16=2j, and 7=w/3. Don't let that confuse you.
Our goal in solving the equation is to get the variable by itself. How can we do this? We UNDO the operation that was done. Let's see how this is done.
Addition UNDO by Subtraction:
x+4=9
We want "x" alone so we subtract 4 from both sides.
x+4 = 9 -4 = -4
x+0 = 5
x+0 is the same as x so wah lah we're done and x=5.
Subtraction UNDO by Addition:
y -5 = 13 +5 = +5
y+0 = 18
y=18
Multiplication UNDO by Division:
2j = 16
/2 = /2 since 2/2 = 1 we just have "j"
j = 8
Division UNDO by Multiplication:
w/3 = 7
*3 = *3 since 1/3 * 3 is 1 then we just have "w"
w = 21
In order to understand how to solve one-step equations, you first need to recall the four basic operations used in math: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Then remember what the word equation means. Equation comes from "equal" so both sides are the same. Let's look at an example for each one of the basic operations.
Addition:
If x+4=9
then x+4 has the same value as 9.
Subtraction:
If y-5=13
then y-5 has the same value as 13.
Multiplication:
If 2j=16
then 2j has the same value as 16.
Division:
If w/3=7
then w/3 has the same value as 7.
Because of the property of equality each of these can be written with the variable on the right. For example: 9=x+4, 13=y-5, 16=2j, and 7=w/3. Don't let that confuse you.
Our goal in solving the equation is to get the variable by itself. How can we do this? We UNDO the operation that was done. Let's see how this is done.
Addition UNDO by Subtraction:
x+4=9
We want "x" alone so we subtract 4 from both sides.
x+4 = 9
-4 = -4
x+0 = 5
x+0 is the same as x so wah lah we're done and x=5.
Subtraction UNDO by Addition:
y -5 = 13
+5 = +5
y+0 = 18
y=18
Multiplication UNDO by Division:
2j = 16
/2 = /2 since 2/2 = 1 we just have "j"
j = 8
Division UNDO by Multiplication:
w/3 = 7
*3 = *3 since 1/3 * 3 is 1 then we just have "w"
w = 21