Math+Notes

How to solve an algebraic equation:

2(4) + 7 = 15 5(4) - 5 = 15
 * Move all the variables to one side of the equals sign first by using opposite operations; remember to move the smallest variable. For example in the equation 2x + 7 = 5x - 5 we would need to subtract 2x from both sides because it is smaller than 5x and it is positive so subtraction is "opposite".
 * We are then left with 7 = 3x - 5. You then need to get all the numerals on one side of the equal sign by doing the same thing. This time 5 is negative so we will need to add 5 to both sides because addition is "opposite".
 * WE then have 12 = 3x. We know that when a number and a variable is next to each other it means multiplication. The opposite of multiplication is division. So now we will need to divide both sides by 3.
 * 12 divided by 3 = 4 so we know that x = 4. We can check it to make sure it is correct. We must get the same answer on both sides of the equation for it to be our answer.
 * 2x + 7 5x - 5


 * Since we got the same answer on both sides we know that x=4 is correct.
 * Remember Algebra is easy if you just remember to do the opposite operation!