Core Equation Terms
A mathematical statement showing two expressions are equal (has an equals sign).
Equation
A single part of an expression separated by addition or subtraction.
Term
To find the value of the variable that makes the equation true.
Solve
(PEMDAS): rules for which operations to do first
Order of Operations
Shows two quantities are the same.
Equals sign.
Solved using one inverse operation.
One-Step Equation.
A combination of numbers, variables, and operations without an equals sign.
Expression
The value(s) that satisfy the equation.
Solution
Multiply a number across parenthesis.
Distributive Property
Requires two inverse operations.
Two-Step Equation
A letter or symbol that represents an unknown value.
Variable
Get the variable alone on one side of the equation.
Isolate the variable
Add or subtract terms with the same variable and exponent
Combine Like Terms
A fixed number with no variable.
Constant
Opposite operations used to undo each other (add/subtract, multiply/divide).
Inverse operations
Plug the answer back into the original equation
Check your solution
The number multiplied by a variable (e.g., 3 in 3x).
Coefficient
Reduce an expression to its simplest form.
Simplify
Replace a variable with a number.
Substitute
Find the value of an expression
Evaluate