1.3 Solving Equations with Variable on Both Sides

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What is an equation?

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An equation is a mathematical statement that asserts the equality of two expressions, typically containing one or more variables.

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What does it mean to solve an equation?

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To solve an equation means to find the value(s) of the variable(s) that make the equation true.

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What is a variable in an equation?

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A variable is a symbol, often represented by letters like x or y, that stands for an unknown value in an equation.

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What is a constant in an equation?

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A constant is a fixed value that does not change, such as numbers like 5, -3, or 0.

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What is a coefficient?

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A coefficient is a numerical factor that multiplies a variable in an algebraic expression, such as 3 in 3x.

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How do you isolate a variable in an equation?

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To isolate a variable, you perform inverse operations to get the variable alone on one side of the equation.

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Subtract 5 from both sides to begin isolating the variable x.

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x = -8.

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x = -6.

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x = 4.