An Introduction to Solving Equations

• Equation: two values are shown to be equal, or perfectly balanced, as signified by their being connected across an equal
sign.
• Variable: an unknown value in an expression or equation that is represented usually by a letter.
• x: letter most commonly used as a variable.
• Constant: a regular number; e.g., 7, which always has the same value.
• Solving an equation: finding the value(s) for the variable(s) that makes the equation true.
• Proving an answer: Using the value you found in the equation, in place of the variable, to see whether the equation really
is balanced and whether the left side really has the same value as the right side even though they are probably not written
using the same numbers.

Think of an equation as representing two versions of exactly

the same number, one on each side of the equal sign.

Solving an equation in algebra means figuring out what

number must be substituted for the unknown number
represented by the variable.

The variable can be any symbol you wish. People have been
known to use pennies, empty boxes, happy faces, ducks, and
a host of other objects.

Most commonly, the unknown value is represented by some

letter, usually x.

To solve for x you get all the variables on one side of the
equation, usually the left, and everything else on the right
side.

You do this by adding and subtracting the same amounts to

both sides of the equation so the variable shifts to the left side
and the constants shift to the right side.

In this case, add –2x and +3 to both sides. When you are
done, you will have the variables all together on one side and
the constants all together on the other side.

Next, you’ll multiply or divide both sides of the equation by

the same number. Your goal is to have one x isolated on its
side of the equation.

In this example, divide both sides by +2.

The result is x = 4.

You don’t worry about the right side; you’ll have whatever
number is the answer there when you’ve finished getting
down to just x on the left side.

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Want a shortcut? Use opposites.

On the left side add the opposite of every variable found on

the right. On the right side, add the opposite of every constant
found on the left. In this case, add –2x to the left and +3 to
the right.

Then multiply or divide to find out what value x has.

In this case, divide both sides by 2 to find out
that x = 4.

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