Solving 1-Variable Equations: Variable on Both Sides of the Equation
Have you wondered about a cougar, mountain lion, puma or panther and then realized you were wondering about the same animal?
cougar = mountain lion = puma = panther
What does it mean to solve a 1-Variable Equation with the variables on both sides of the equation?
When solving a 1-variable equation we are trying to find the value for the variable that makes the two expressions equal.
What does it mean to solve a 1.pdf**Check out EXAMPLE 1 below to see the math steps to solve the equation 3 + x = 5 + 2x**
If you forgot the different parts of an expression such as term, variable, or constant, check out the fundamental Parts of an Expression!
Inverse Operations
So how do you get the constants on one side of the equal sign and terms with variables on the other side of the equal sign? Inverse operations! Remember: addition and subtraction are inverse operations and multiplication and division are inverse operations.
Inverse Operations.pdfIf you forgot how to undo any of the operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication or division, check out the fundamental Solving 1-Variable Equations: Variable on One Side of the Equation!
How do you solve 1-Variable Equations with variables on both sides of the equation?
The goal when solving equations with variables on both sides of the equation is to get the terms with variables on one side of the equal sign and the constants on the other side of the equal sign. To do this, you must use inverse operations to move terms from one side of the equal sign to the other side. Let’s check out some examples:
Example 1
Example 1.pdfExample 2
Example 2.pdfExample 3
Example 3.pdfWhy do we learn how to solve 1-Variable Equations?
We learn how to solve equations to begin developing the skill of taking something apart (undoing) to find the root cause or diagnose the problem. When a house has water damage a contractor will peel back layers of the house to determine the root cause of the water source creating the damage. Much like a mechanic may have to remove parts of a car to locate and fix the main problem of the car. What may seem like simple steps to undo a math operation will eventually lead to greater problems in different careers that require the same approach: undo an operation to solve the problem.
What’s next? Applying your math knowledge to more complex 1-variable equations. Check out the fundamental Solving Complex 1-Variable Equations!
