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Auralith Learning

Year 8 · Maths · Brackets and equations · Lesson 2

Solving equations

Learn to solve one- and two-step equations with the balance method, including negative answers and fractions, and to form and solve equations from words, shapes and angles.

Whiteboard video lesson: Solving equations

34-minute video lesson

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

Watch free for a month

What your child will learn

  • Understand an equation as a balance
  • Solve one-step equations
  • Solve two-step equations using inverse operations
  • Form equations from words and diagrams
  • Check solutions by substitution

The method

  1. Undo any + or − first, doing the same to both sides.
  2. Then undo any × or ÷, to both sides.
  3. Write x = your answer.
  4. Check by substituting your answer back in.

Key words: equation, solve, inverse operation, balance, unknown.

Worked examples

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

Question 1

Solve x + 7 = 12.

  1. Step 1: Subtract 7 from both sides
  2. Step 2: Write the new equation
  3. Step 3: Check your answer

Answer: x = 5

Question 2

Solve x − 4 = 9.

  1. Step 1: Add 4 to both sides
  2. Step 2: Write the new equation
  3. Step 3: Check your answer

Answer: x = 13

Question 3

Solve 5x = 35.

  1. Step 1: Write the equation
  2. Step 2: Divide both sides by 5
  3. Step 3: Check your answer

Answer: x = 7