SOLVING ONE-STEP EQUATIONS

AND “LIKE TERMS”

PS Algebra I

On the properties chart… Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and

Division Properties of Equality these equality properties are the basis

for solving equations goal in solving equations: to find the

value of a given variable (by getting the variable all alone on one side of the equation)

How do I get the variable alone?

in getting the variable alone, one must eliminate everything surrounding it

this “elimination” is done by performing the

opposite operation on the term being eliminated:

- if positive term (addition), subtract on both sides

- if negative term (subtraction), add on both sides

- if multiplication, divide on both sides

- if division, multiply on both sides

Let’s try some… Solve the following equations:

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

F.

G.

H.

I.

“Like Terms”…

two or more terms are considered to be “like” if the variable portion is exactly the same:

Examples: and

and Examples of NOT like terms: and

and

Adding and Subtracting “Like Terms”… terms that are considered “like” can be

combined (just add or subtract together the “coefficients”- KEEP the variable portion the same as is!)

Examples of combining like terms…

Now you try some…

A)

B)

C)

D)

E)