Solving 1-Step Equations

In order understand 1-step equations you need to understand four vocabulary words:
Variable, Constant, Expression, and Equation.  Click on the word for its definition.

1-Step Equations are equations that require only one step to solve.  For all equations we have one goal in mind and that is to get the variable by itself.  For an equation involving addition you add the opposite of the number with the variable to get the variable by itself.  If the equation involves subtraction you LCO the problem and then add the opposite.  For equations involving multiplication and division you don't add the opposite but you do the opposite.

Examples:

Addition:
          x + 5 = 9
x + 5 + (-5) = 9 + (-5)    Add the opposite
                x = 4

Subtraction:
             m - 8 = -4
        m + (-8) = -4     LCO
  m + (-8) + 8 = -4 + 8     Add the opposite
                   m = 4

Multiplication:
       4g = 12

      4g  =  12     Since you have a multiply by 4 you do a divide by 4 to get the variable by itself.
       4        4
         g = 3

Division:
       h  = -7
       5

 (5)  h  = -7 (5)   Since you have a divide by 5 you do a multiply by 5 to get the variable by itself.
       5

        h = -35