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Year 7 · Maths · Equality and equivalence · Lesson 2

One-step equations: multiply and divide

Solve one-step equations involving multiplication and division, including fractional and negative answers, and form equations from problems.

Whiteboard video lesson: One-step equations: multiply and divide

27-minute video lesson

Teaching, worked examples and 20 practice questions solved step by step.

Watch free for a month

What your child will learn

  • Solve ax = b
  • Solve x/a = b
  • Give fraction and decimal answers
  • Form equations from problems
  • Check solutions

The method

  1. If x is multiplied (ax = b), divide both sides by a.
  2. If x is divided (x/a = b), multiply both sides by a.
  3. Answers can be fractions, decimals or negative.
  4. Check by putting your answer back in.

Key words: equation, inverse, multiply, divide, solution.

Worked examples

The first three practice questions from the lesson, with every step.

Question 1

Solve 2x = 18.

  1. Step 1: Write the equation
  2. Step 2: Divide both sides by 2
  3. Step 3: Check your answer

Answer: x = 9

Question 2

Solve 7x = 35.

  1. Step 1: Write the equation
  2. Step 2: Divide both sides by 7
  3. Step 3: Check your answer

Answer: x = 5

Question 3

Solve 9p = 72.

  1. Step 1: Write the equation
  2. Step 2: Divide both sides by 9
  3. Step 3: Check your answer

Answer: p = 8