There are different techniques, depending on the specific situation. In the simplest case, you transfer all the variables to one side. Here is an example:
4x = 2x + 16
Subtract "2x" on each side:
2x = 16
Now you have a single variable, on only one side.
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-- You select an operation. -- You apply the same operation to each side of the equation. -- You keep doing both steps until the equation says (the variable) = (the value of the variable)
1. Elimination: Select two equations and a variable to eliminate. Multiply each equation by the coefficient if that variable in the other equation. If the signs of the coefficient for that variable in the resulting equations are the same then subtract one new equation from the other. If they have opposite signs then add them. You will now have an equation without that variable. Repeat will other pairs and you will end up with one fewer equation and one fewer variable. Repeat this process: after each round you will have one fewer equation and one fewer variable. Keep going until you are left with one equation in one variable. Solve that. Then work backwards solving for the other variables.2. Substitution: Select a equation and a variable. Make that variable the subject of the equation. The right hand side of this equation is an expression for that variable. Substitute this expression for the variable is each of the other equations. Again, one fewer equation in one fewer variable. Continue until you are left with one equation in one variable. Solve that. Then work backwards solving for the other variables.3. Matrix inversion: If A is the nxn matrix of coefficients, X is the nx1 [column] matrix of variables and B is the nx1 matrix of the equation constants, then X = A^-1*B where A^-1 is the inverse of matrix A.
It means that if you replace one variable with one of the numbers, and the other variable with the other numbers, and then evaluate the expressions on each side of the equations, the equalities will be true.
The basic rules to solve equations are to isolate the variable on one side of the equation by performing the same operation on both sides. This includes adding or subtracting the same value, multiplying or dividing by the same value, and applying exponent or logarithm rules if necessary. The goal is to simplify the equation until the variable is alone on one side and the solution can be determined.
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