How do i solve an equation?

Answer 1

There are many different types of equations. Most of the ones you'll come across have some kind of variable in them. That's a letter that stands in for an unknown number. Solving the equation usually means finding out what that number is. This is achieved by getting the variable by itself on one side of the equation. It doesn't matter which side. Since the values on both sides of the equals sign are the same, whatever you do to one side, if you do it to the other, both sides will still be equal. Here's a simple example:

x + 2 = 5

If you subtract two from the left side, you're left with x. If you subtract two from the right side, you're left with 3. The new equation, x = 3, is the solution, but we knew that, since 3 + 2 = 5. Let's add some stuff.

x/2 + 6 = 10

There are two ways to solve this. You can multiply each thing by two, getting x + 12 = 20. Subtracting 12 from both sides leaves x = 8

or

Subtract 6 from both sides, leaving x/2 = 4. Multiplying both sides by 2 leaves x = 8

Note that 10 = 6 + x/2 would give the same result.

It's important to check your work by plugging the number you found into the original equation.

8 divided by 2 equals 4 plus 6 = 10. It checks. That's how you know you found the right number. As you go along, equations will become more complex, but the process is the same.