Solving Basic Algebraic Equations
Algebraic equations are basically mathematical puzzles where letters stand in for mystery numbers. Think of them as balance scales - whatever you do to one side, you must do to the other to keep things equal.
The golden rule is simple: isolate the variable (usually x) by doing the opposite operations. If something's being added, subtract it. If something's being multiplied, divide it.
Let's break down the process with 3x+2=8. First, get rid of that +2 by subtracting 2 from both sides: 3x=6. Then eliminate the 3 multiplying x by dividing both sides by 3: x=2.
Top Tip: Always work backwards through the order of operations - tackle addition and subtraction first, then multiplication and division!
For trickier examples like 0.5x−3=20, the same rules apply. Add 3 to both sides to get 0.5x=23, then multiply both sides by 2 (the opposite of dividing by 2) to find x=46.