Using two steps to solve an equation 

Introduction

When we solve an equation, we are solving to find the number that is missing. This missing number is usually represented by a letter. We find the value of that letter or variable to solve the equation.

Rules for Solving 2-Step Equations:

• Identify the variable.We look for the letter in the problem. The variable letter can be any letter, not just x and y2x + 3 = 7, x is the variable; 5w 9 = 17, w is the variableTo solve the equation, we need to isolate the variable or get the variable by itself.
• Add/Subtract whole numbers so theyre all on one side.For example, in the equation 4x 7 = 21, we add 7 to both sides to get the whole numbers all on ones side.4x 7 + 7 = 21 + 7; \: So 4x = 28
• Multiply /Divide to get the variable by itself.For example, 4x = 28; Here we divide both sides of the equation by 44×4=284;x=7
• We check our workWe plug the value of the variable got as solution in the equation to check our work as follows.Given equation is 4x 7 = 21; we plug in the solutionx = 74×7 7 = 2128 7 = 2121 = 21So, the solution is verified to be correct.

Example 1

Solve the following two step equation:

7g + 3 = 24

Solution

Step 1:

We first identify the variable in the given equation

7g + 3 = 24

The only letter in the equation is g and it is the variable.

Step 2:

We add/subtract whole numbers to the equation so all are one side.

Here we subtract 3 from both sides of the equation.

7g + 3 3 = 24 3;

7g = 21

Step 3:

We multiply/divide on both sides of the equation to get the variable by itself

We divide both sides of the equation by 7

7g7=217

g = 3

So, the solution of the equation is g = 3

Step 4:

We check our work by plugging the numbers into the equation.

Here, we plug g = 3 in the equation, 7g + 3 = 24

7 3 + 3 = 24

21 + 3 = 24

So the solution is verified to be correct.