How To Solve An Equation

By: Christine Dziedzic How To Solve An Equation

Before You Start You Should Know The equal sign means that what is on one side is equal to or the same as the other side. Like variables represent the same unknowns and unlike variables represent different unknowns.You must remember to follow the order of operations. You should try to isolate the variable on one side of the equation.What you do to one side of the equal sign you must do to the other in order to keep the equation is balance. If you add or subtract to one side of the equation you must do the same to the other side.If a variable has a coefficient then use the inverse to isolate the variable.

Write Out the Equation 3x+4-6x=46

Combine Like Terms 3x+4-6x=46 To solve this equation first combine -6x and 3x to get -3x. This can be done because each of the variables represent the same unknown. You do this to simplify the equation. The equation will now look like so: -3x+4=46

Combine Constants The equation stands at -3x+4=46 , now it is time to combine the constants. Subtract 4 from both sides of the equation. This is to keep the equation in balance. Like so: -3x+4-4=46-4 Now the equation should look like this: -3x=42

Isolate X The equation should look like: -3x=42.All that is left is to isolate x. In order to isolate the x, you must divide by the coefficient of -3. This is because of the inverse relationship.

Like so: -3x/-3=42/-3 So now the equation should be in its simplest form X= -14

Check Your Answer Plug your answer in the place of x to see if your answer is correct. The original equation was 3x+4-6x=46. Now we know that x= -14. So substitute x for -14 and make sure the equation works. Once you substitute -14 for x the equation the problem should look like this: 3*-14+4-6*-14=46 -42+4+84=4646=46Because this is a true statement, your answer is correct.

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