Algebra wouldn't be fun if it were this easy to find x!
It's all about using step-by-step logic to figure out missing numbers.
There's more than one way to find x.
One Always Equals The Other
Equation comes from the word equal, so one side of an equation will always be equal to the other side. If you can find the value of one side, you'll know the value of the other.
Work it out!
Use the clues below to solve this equation:
2x = 12 - 8
What's the value of the right side?
What number, if you multiply it by 2, will give you the same value of the right side?
Quiz
What's x?
Opposites Attract
Since both sides of an equation are equal, they'll balance each other out. If you look at one side's symbol and apply the opposite symbol to the other side, you can find the balance to work out the equation.
Think of it like a seesaw. If the person on one side of the seesaw is on the ground, the other person has to push down on the other side for the seesaw to even out.
So if one side has multiplication? Use division on the other side to work out the balance.
Work it out!
5x - 3 = 12
You need to isolate x on the left side, so you need to get 5 and 3 to the right side.
Follow the steps below to solve this equation:
Move - 3 to the right side, make it + 3, and add it to 12
The value of the right side: 12 + 3 = 15
Move 5 to the right side and divide it into 15
Quiz
What's x?
Take Action
Who knows what you'll be able to solve next!
Once you're comfortable with these go-to strategies for solving x, you'll be able to do more and more with algebra.
The next time you're doing an algebra equation:
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