Solving equations might seem tricky at first, but there's actually...
Maths735 views·Updated 28 Jun 2026·1 pageMastering the Basics: Solving Algebraic Equations
marnie@marnie
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Solving Equations Made Simple
The secret to solving equations is remembering one golden rule: change side, change sign. When you move a number from one side of the equals sign to the other, you flip its operation to the opposite.
Here's how the opposites work: addition becomes subtraction, subtraction becomes addition, multiplication becomes division, and division becomes multiplication. It's like the operations are best mates who always do the opposite of each other!
Let's see this in action with some examples. If you have x + 3 = 20, move the +3 to the other side and it becomes -3, giving you x = 20 - 3 = 17. Similarly, x - 7 = 11 becomes x = 11 + 7 = 18.
For trickier equations like 2x - 7 = 11, work step by step. First, deal with the -7 by changing it to +7 on the other side: 2x = 11 + 7 = 18. Then tackle the multiplication by dividing both sides by 2: x = 18 ÷ 2 = 9.
Top Tip: Always work through equations step by step - deal with addition and subtraction first, then handle multiplication and division. This keeps everything neat and prevents silly mistakes!
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Maths735 views·Updated 28 Jun 2026·1 pageMastering the Basics: Solving Algebraic Equations
marnie@marnie
Solving equations might seem tricky at first, but there's actually a simple method that makes it dead easy. Once you master the "change side, change sign" rule, you'll be solving equations like a pro in no time!
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Solving Equations Made Simple
The secret to solving equations is remembering one golden rule: change side, change sign. When you move a number from one side of the equals sign to the other, you flip its operation to the opposite.
Here's how the opposites work: addition becomes subtraction, subtraction becomes addition, multiplication becomes division, and division becomes multiplication. It's like the operations are best mates who always do the opposite of each other!
Let's see this in action with some examples. If you have x + 3 = 20, move the +3 to the other side and it becomes -3, giving you x = 20 - 3 = 17. Similarly, x - 7 = 11 becomes x = 11 + 7 = 18.
For trickier equations like 2x - 7 = 11, work step by step. First, deal with the -7 by changing it to +7 on the other side: 2x = 11 + 7 = 18. Then tackle the multiplication by dividing both sides by 2: x = 18 ÷ 2 = 9.
Top Tip: Always work through equations step by step - deal with addition and subtraction first, then handle multiplication and division. This keeps everything neat and prevents silly mistakes!
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Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
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Explore essential mathematical concepts including powers, geometry, statistics, and probability. This resource features 65 pages of detailed explanations, diagrams, and examples to enhance your understanding of topics such as right triangles, volume calculations, and data representation. Ideal for students seeking to strengthen their numeracy skills and grasp complex mathematical principles.
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Stefan SiOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
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