Some Helpful Tools
This section will cover the steps needed in solving multi-step equations.
Equations that contain a coefficient other than one and require multiple steps are called multi-step equations. Below are steps that will help you solve multi-step equations.
Steps to Follow
Simplify the equation by combining like terms and removing all parentheses and brackets
Move the variable to the left side of the equation.
Solve for the variable by performing the inverse operation.
Check your answer.
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Example 2: 5(x + 2) = 25
The inverse of addition is subtraction. Since we're adding 2, we'll subtract 2 from both sides to get 4x by itself on the left side of the equation.
Check your work:
The answer is correct.
Example 1: 4x + 2 = 18
The inverse of multiplication is division. Since we're multiplying 4 times x, we'll divide both sides by 4 to solve for x.
Simplify by removing all parentheses. To do this, multiply everything inside the parentheses by 5.
Check your work:
The answer is correct.
Example 3: 4(3x - 2) + 5x = 26
Check your work:
The answer is correct.
Plug the answer back into the equation. If both sides are equal, the answer is correct.
Subtract both sides by 10 to get 5x by itself on the left side of the equation.
Divide both sides by 5 to solve for x.
Plug your answer back into the equation.
If both sides are equal, the answer is correct.
Simplify by removing all parentheses. To do this, multiply everything inside the parentheses by 4. Then combine like terms.
Add 8 to both sides to get 17x by itself on the left side of the equation.
Divide both sides by 17 to solve for x.
Plug your answer back into the equation.
If both sides are equal, the answer is correct.
Solving Multi-Step Equations
Math: Multi-Step Equations - Tutorial
