Algebra 1 - Solving Equations

One-Step Equations

100

Solve for x:

x/3 = 2

x = 6

WORK
x/3 = 2
x/3 *3 = 2 *3
x = 6

200

Solve for x:

5x = 20

(When you see it written 5x that means the same thing as 5*x)

x = 4

WORK
5x = 20
5x/5 = 20/5
x = 4

300

Solve for m:

(4/5)*m = 28

m = 35

WORK
(4/5)*m = 28
(5/4)*(4/5)*m = 28*(5/4)
m = 35

400

Solve:

Five friends equally split a restaurant bill that comes to $32.50. How much does each friend pay?

Each friend pays $6.50.

WORK

5x = 32.50

5x/5 = 32.50/5

x = 6.5 ~~~> $6.50

Two-Step Equations

100

Solve for a:

(1/2)a + 5 = 18

a = 26

WORK
(1/2)a + 5 = 18
(1/2)a + 5 - 5 = 18 - 5
(1/2)a = 13
2*(1/2)a = 13*2
a = 26

200

Solve for t:

-t + 8 = 3

t = 5

WORK
-t + 8 = 3
-t + 8 - 8= 3 - 8
-t = -5 [which is the same thing as -1t = -5]
-1t/-1=-5/-1
t = 5

300

Solve for x:

(x – 7)/3 = -12

x = -29

WORK
(x – 7)/3 = -12
3*((x – 7)/3)= -12*3
x – 7 = -36
x – 7 + 7= -36 + 7
x = -29

400

Solve:

You work for 4 hours on Saturday. You receive a $50 bonus. You earn $164.00 total. How much did you earn per hour?

You earned $28.50 per hour.

WORK

4x + 50 = 164

4x + 50 = 164

4x + 50 - 50 = 164 - 50

4x = 114

4x/4 = 114/4

x = 28.5 ~~~> $28.50

Multi-Step Equations

100

Solve for x:

(x + 4) + 2x = 67

x = 21

WORK
(x + 4) + 2x = 67
x + 2x + 4 = 67 [addition is commutative]
3x + 4 = 67
3x + 4 - 4= 67 - 4
3x = 63
3x/3 = 63/3
x = 21

200

Solve for x:

-8(2x - 1) = 36

x = -7/4

WORK
-8(2x - 1) = 36
-16x + 8 = 36 [Distributive Property]
-16x + 8 - 8 = 36 - 8
-16x = 28
-16x/(-16) = 28/(-16)
x = -7/4

300

Solve for x:

3.5 - 0.02x = 1.24

x = 113

WORK
3.5 - 0.02x = 1.24
100*(3.5 - 0.02x) = 1.24*100
350 - 2x = 124 [Distributive Property]
350 - 350 - 2x = 124 - 350
-2x/(-2) = -226/(-2)
x = 113

400

Solve

Online concert tickets cost $37 each, plus a service charge of $8.50 per ticket. The Web site also charges a transaction fee of $14.99 for the purchase. You paid $242.49. How many tickets did you buy?

You bought 5 tickets.

WORK

37t + 8.50t + 14.99 = 242.49

45.5t + 14.99 = 242.49

45.5t + 14.99 - 14.99 = 242.49 - 14.99

45.5t = 227.5

45.5t/45.5 = 227.5/45.5

t = 5 ~~~> 5 tickets

Variables on Both Sides

100

Solve for x:

5x + 2 = 2x + 14

x = 4

WORK
5x + 2 = 2x + 14
5x + 2 - 2 2x + 14- 2
5x = 2x + 12
5x - 2x = 2x - 2x + 12
3x = 12
3x/3 = 12/3
x = 4

200

Solve for p:

1.5p = 1.25p + 8

p = 32

WORK
1.5p = 1.25p + 8
1.5p - 1.25p = 1.25p - 1/25p + 8
0.25p/0.25 = 8/0.25
p = 32

300

Solve for x:

2(5x - 1) = 3(x + 11)

x = 5

WORK
2(5x - 1) = 3(x + 11)
10x - 2 = 3x + 33 [Distribute]
10x - 3x - 2 = 3x - 3x + 33
7x - 2 + 2 = 33 + 2
7x/7 = 35/7
x = 5

400

Solve:

Two buildings have the same total height. One building has 8 floors with height, h. The other building has a ground floor of 16ft and 6 other floors with height, h. Write and solve an equation to find the height, h, of these floors.

8h = 16 + 6h

h = 8

WORK

8h = 16 + 6h

8h - 6h = 16 + 6h - 6h

2h = 16

2h/2 = 16/2

h = 8