![]() How to Solve One-Step Equations with Addition We will do the opposite of multiplying by 2, which is to divide by 2. We want to remove the multiplication by 2 to leave just □. Here is another example of solving a one-step equation. Subtracting 2 has the effect of removing the + 2.īecause we subtracted 2 to the left hand side of the equation, we subtract 2 from the right hand side of the equation. The opposite of adding 2 is to subtract 2 to both sides of the equation. This is done to both sides of the equals sign in order to leave the variable on its own on one side of the equals sign.įor example, □ + 2 = 6 is a one-step equation involving an addition. For example, if there is an addition, use subtraction, if there is a subtraction use addition, if there is multiplication, use division and if there is division, use multiplication. To solve one-step equations, use the inverse (opposite) of the operation that is acting on the variable. It can be solved in one-step by adding 8 to both sides. When the variable is written in a fraction with a number below it as the denominator, we must multiply by this denominator to solve the equation.įor example, □ – 8 = 3 is an exampe of a one-step equation. We must divide by this number to solve the equation. ![]() When the variable has a number in front of it, it is being multiplied by that number. We can see that the variable x subtract a number can be solved by adding this number. We can see that the variable □ plus a number can be solved by subtracting this number. These solving the 4 different types of one step equations are shown in the image below. Because only one operation is needed, one-step equations are used to introduce the concept of solving equations. A single addition, subtraction, multiplication or division is used to find the value of the variable. Now, we can see that we must subtract 14 from both sides to solve.A one-step equation is an equation that only involves one mathematical operation to solve. When you subtract a negative number, it’s the same as adding the number, so we can change this to: When you have two signs in a row (minus, minus) it is always confusing, so let’s change it to one sign. ![]() You have to ask yourself, what is the 7 doing down there? Is it adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing? It’s dividing! So, the inverse operation would be multiplication. This one always seems to stump some people. That means we must cancel out the 5 by dividing both sides by 5. The left side of the equation is read as “5 times x,” so this is multiplication. You can check your answers by plugging the value back in for x. We must do this to both sides of the equation to keep it balanced. The inverse operation that will undo the “add 5” would be to subtract 5. We have to use these inverse operations to cancel out or “undo” operations so that we can solve a problem with an unknown. These are the inverse operations that you will need for one-step equations. What would be the inverse or opposite operation as addition? It would be subtraction! How about the inverse or opposite of multiplication? This would be division. An operation is something like addition or subtraction and so forth. These are operations that do the opposite action. In math, there are such things known as inverse operations. We are going to start simple and one step at a time. This fundamental method is used in all types of math problems and is necessary even later in the toughest and most advanced math courses! Don’t worry though. One of the main and very important basics of algebra is solving an equation for an unknown value.
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