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Solving One-Step Equations
1. Addition & Subtraction Equations
2. Multiplication & Division Equations
 Solving One-Step Equations

To Solve an Equation, you will move terms

from one side of the equal sign to the other.
GOAL: Get the “x” (the variable)
alone on one side of the equal sign and
everything else on the other side.

TOOL: Opposite Operations.

The Three Simplest Opposite Operations:

Addition and Subtraction
Multiplication and Division
Roots and Exponents
 Addition
& Subtraction
Equations
 Think of the situation like this:

There is a house with two rooms

x + 5 = 7
One room has an “x” in it, the other does not

The wall between the rooms is where the “=“ sign is.

“x” wants to be completely alone in his room.

So any other object in that room
has to be moved to the other room, BY YOU!
 We need to get the “x” ALONE!

Identify which object is in the “x” room

Object to move:
x + 5 = 7 the “5”

Which operation ( +, -, x,  ) Operation being used:

“+”
is attaching the “5” to the “x”?

We must use the Opposite of “+”:

Opposite Operation “-”

So we must subtract 5 to get the “x” alone in his room.

 Now that we know what to do,
How do we do it?

x + 5 = 7
We know we must subtract the “5” to get rid of it.
But in equations, whatever you do to one side,
you must also do to the other side.
This keeps the equation “balanced”.

So we will subtract 5 from each

side of the equal sign.
 x + 5 = 7
Subtract 5 from each side

x + 5 - 5 = 7 - 5
On the left, 5 - 5 = 0
On the right, 7 - 5 = 2

ANSWER: x = 2
Once the “x” is alone on one side,
the other side is the answer.
 We need to get the “x” ALONE!

Identify which object is in the “x” room

Object to move:
x + 8 = 20 the “8”

Which operation ( +, -, x,  ) Operation being used:

“+”
is attaching the “8” to the “x”?

We must use the Opposite of “+”:

Opposite Operation “-”

So we must subtract 8 to get the “x” alone in his room.

 x + 8 = 20
Subtract 8 from each side

x + 8 - 8 = 20 - 8
On the left, 8 - 8 = 0
On the right, 20 - 8 = 12

ANSWER: x = 12
Once the “x” is alone on one side,
the other side is the answer.
 We need to get the “x” ALONE!
Note: x can be on either side of the equal sign!

Identify which object is in the “x” room

Object to move:
15 = x - 9 the “9”

Operation being used:

Which operation ( +, -, x,  ) “-”
is attaching the “9” to the “x”?

We must use the Opposite of “-”:

Opposite Operation “+”

So we must add 9 to get the “x” alone in his room.

 15 = x - 9
Add 9 to each side

15 + 9 = x - 9 + 9
On the left, 15 + 9 = 24
n the right, -9 + 9 = 0

ANSWER: 24 = x
Once the “x” is alone on one side,
the other side is the answer.
Multiplication
& Division
Equations
 Note: when a number sits next to a variable with nothing in
between the two, the operation is multiplication.
(two times “x”) is written as “2x”.
We need to get the “x” ALONE!
Identify which object is in the “x” room
Object to move:
2x = 16 the “2”

Which operation ( +, -, x,  ) Operation being used:

is attaching the “2” to the “x”? “x”

We must use the Opposite of “x”:

Opposite Operation “ ”

So we must divide by 2 to get the “x” alone in his room.

 2x = 16 If a number sits next
to a variable with
nothing in between
Divide each side by two the two, the
operation is
2x = 16 multiplication.

2 2 We show division by
using fraction bars.
On the left, 2 ÷ 2 = 1
On the right, 16 ÷ 2 = 8

ANSWER: x = 8
Once the “x” is alone on one side,
the other side is the answer.
Note: Which operation is between the (-3) and the x.

-3x = 21
If a number sits next
Divide each side by negative 3 to a variable with

-3x = 21 nothing in between

the two, the
-3 -3 operation is
multiplication.
On the left, (-3) ÷ (-3) = 1
On the right, 21 ÷ (-3)= -7

ANSWER: x = -7
Once the “x” is alone on one side,
the other side is the answer.
Note: The “x” can be on either side of the equal sign

-32 = 4x If a number sits next

to a variable with
nothing in between
Divide each side by 4 the two, the
-32 = 4x operation is
multiplication.
4 4
On the left, -32 ÷ 4 = -8
On the right, 4 ÷ 4 = 1

ANSWER: -8 = x
Once the “x” is alone on one side,
the other side is the answer.
 Note: When a number is written as a fraction,
the operation is division.
(“x” divided by 2) is written as “x/2”.
We need to get the “x” ALONE!
Identify which object is in the “x” room

x = 8 Object to move:
the “2”
2
Operation being used:
Which operation ( +, -, x,  )
“ ”
is attaching the “2” to the “x”?
We must use the Opposite of “”:
Opposite Operation “x”

So we must multiply by 2 to get the “x” alone in his room.

 x =8
2
Multiply each side by 2

(2)x = 8 (2)
2
On the left, 2 ÷ 2 = 1
On the right, 8 x 2 = 16

ANSWER: x = 16
Once the “x” is alone on one side,
the other side is the answer.