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You need to isolate the variable you want to solve for, on one side of the equation. This involves getting rid of everything else. Note that what you do on one side of the equation, you also have to do on the other side. "Getting rid" of everything else basically means doing the inverse of the operation shown.

Example:

2x + 3 = 21

You might start by getting rid of the 3. For this, you subtract 3 on both sides. Subtracting 3 is the inverse of the operation shown in the equation, adding 3.

2x + 3 - 3 = 21 - 3

2x = 18

Next, you get rid of the 2. Once again, since in the equation there is a multiplication by 2, you divide by 2 - the inverse operation. In this case, you divide by 2 on each side:

2x/2 = 18/2

(2/2)x = 18/2

x = 9

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Q: How do you use inverse opperationto solve an equation or an inequality?
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