Sample Problem: Solving Algebraic Equations

Example:

• a + 1 = 3
• a = 3 - 1
• If you transpose a certain value to the other side of the equation, it "becomes the opposite of the original," so plus becomes minus, minus becomes plus, multiply becomes divide and vice versa.
• a = 2
• 2 + 1 = 3
• 3 = 3
• a = 2

Sample Problems:

• Solve for a:
• 5 + a = 7
• a - 13 = 4
• 3a  = 9
• a/2 = 10
• Solve for b:
•  9 + b = 15
• b - 2 = 1
• 2b = 2
• b/3 = 4
• Solve for c:
• 6 + c = 13
• c - 3 = 2
• 2c = 20
• 6/c = 3
• Solve for x: 
• 2 + x = 24
• x - 3 = 20
• 8x = 16
• x/7 = 5
• Solve for y:
• 8 + y = 28
• y - 4 = 12
• 3y = 15
• y/8 = 2

Answers to Sample Problems:

• a
• 5 + a = 7
• a = 7 - 5
• a = 2
• a - 13 = 4
• a = 4 + 13
• a = 17
• 3a = 9
• a = 9/3
• a = 3
• a/2 = 10
• a = 10(2)
• a = 20
• b
  •  9 + b = 15
  • b = 15 - 9
  • b = 6
  • b - 2 = 1
  • b = 1 + 2
  • b = 3
  • 2b = 2
  • b = 2/2
  • b = 1
  • b/3 = 4
  • b = 4(3)
  • b = 12
• c
  • 6 + c = 13
  • c = 13 - 6
  • c = 7
  • c - 3 = 2
  • c = 2 + 3
  • c = 5
  • 2c = 20
  • c = 20/2
  • c = 10
  • 6/c = 3
  • c = 3(6)
  • c = 18
• x
  • 2 + x = 24
  • x = 24 - 2
  • x = 22
  • x - 3 = 20
  • x = 20 + 3
  • x = 23
  • 8x = 16
  • x = 16/8
  • x = 2
  • x/7 = 5
  • x = 5(7)
  • x = 35
• y
  • 8 + y = 28
  • y  = 28 - 8
  • y = 20
  • y - 4 = 12
  • y = 12 + 4
  • y = 16
  • 3y = 15
  • y = 15/3
  • y = 5
  • y/8 = 2
  • y = 2(8)
  • y = 16