Algebra 1 - Solving Equations

One-Step Equations

100

Solve for b:

-7 = b - 3

b = -4

WORK
-7 = b - 3
-7 +3 = b - 3 +3
-4 = b

200

Solve for x:

x/3 = 2

x = 6

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

300

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

400

Solve for m:

(4/5)*m = 28

m = 35

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

500

Solve for p:

-2.54 = p + 7.17

p = -9.71

WORK

-2.54 = p + 7.17

-2.54- 7.17 = p + 7.17- 7.17

p = -9.71

Two-Step Equations

100

Solve for x:

2x + 3 = 15

(When you see it written 2x that means the same thing as 2*x)

x = 6

WORK
2x + 3 = 15
2x + 3 - 3 = 15 - 3
2x = 12
(2x)/2 = 12/2
x = 6

200

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

300

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

400

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

500

Solve for x:

-24 = -7x + 4

x = 4

WORK

-24 = -7x + 4

-24 - 3= -7x + 4 - 4

-28 = -7x

-28/(-7)=-7x/(-7)

4 = x

Multi-Step Equations

100

Solve for m:

5 = 5m - 23 + 2m

m =4

WORK
5 = 5m - 23 + 2m
5 = 5m + 2m - 23
5 = 7m - 23
5 + 23 = 7m - 23 + 23
28 = 7m
28/7 = 7m/7
4 = m

200

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

300

Solve for x:

-3(x - 1) = 36

x = -11

WORK

-3(x - 1) = 36

-3x + 3 = 36 [Distributive Property]

-16x + 3 - 3 = 36 - 3

-3x = 33

-3x/(-3) = 33/(-3)

x = -11

400

Solve for x:

2/x=7/(10+x)

x = 4

500

Solve for Y:

     w=9x+5y                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Y=w-9x/5

Variables on Both Sides

100

Solve for b:

3b - 4 = b + 2

b = 3

WORK
3b - 4 = b + 2
3b - 4 + 4 = b + 2 + 4
3b = b + 6
3b - b = b - b + 6
2b = 6
2b/2 = 6/2
b = 3

200

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

300

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

400

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

500

Solve for x:

9m - 4 = -3m + 5 + 12m

NO SOLUTION

-4 = 5

WORK

9m - 4 = -3m + 5 + 12m

9m - 4 = -3m + 12m + 5

9m -9m - 4 = 9m -9m + 5

-4 = 5 <~~~NO! So, No Solution!

Word Problems

100

Solve:

The larger of two numbers is 12 more than the smaller. If the sum of the two numbers is 74, find the two numbers 

Smaller = 31

Larger =43

WORK

x+x+12= 74

2x+12=74

2x=62

x=31 

200

Solve:

You work for 4 hours on Saturday and 8 hours on Sunday. You receive a $50 bonus. You earn $164.00 total. How much did you earn per hour?

You earned $9.50 per hour.

WORK

4x + 8x + 50 = 164

12x + 50 = 164

12x + 50 - 50 = 164 - 50

12x = 114

12x/12 = 114/12

x = 9.5 ~~~> $9.50

300

Solve:

The length of a rectangle is 3 inches more than the width. If the perimeter is 42inches, find the dimensions rectangle. 

X= width= 9in

x+3 = length 12in

2(x)+ 2(x+3)=42

2x+2x+6=42

4x+6=42

4x= 36

x=9

400

Solve

Find two consecutive odd numbers whose sum is 144

x=1st= 71

x+2=2nd =73

x+x+2=144

2x+2=144

2x= 142

x=71

500

Solve

A restaurant sold 350 less hot dogs than hamburgers. Altogether the restaurant sold 700 hotdogs and hamburgers. How many of each did they sell?  

Let x= hamburgers = 525

Let X -350 = hot dogs =175

X+X-350= 700

2X -350=70

2x= 1050

x=525