Section 6.

4
When we solve equations, our goal is to
find the of the variable; the
to the equation.
𝟏𝟒𝒙 − 𝟑𝟕 = 𝟏𝟕𝟑
To find the solution to an equation, we
________ the variable by mathematically
undoing the equation.

If you can a two-step

equation, you will automatically
know how to or solve it.

Check this out! →

There are four types of two-step equations:
Multiplication/Addition Division/Addition
Multiplication/Subtraction Division/Subtraction

What type of an equation is this?

𝟏𝟒𝒙 − 𝟑𝟕 = 𝟏𝟕𝟑
If you said ,
you’re correct!
Name the following equations.
𝒙
1) + 𝟓 = 𝟏𝟎 ______________
𝟗

2) 𝟕 = 𝟔𝒚 − 𝟏𝟏 ___________________

3) 𝟒𝒏 + 𝟖 = 𝟐𝟒 __________________
𝒓
4) 𝟑 = − 𝟏𝟕 _________________
𝟐
 How does
naming equations
help you solve
them?
Let’s start with this equation:
𝟕𝒏 + 𝟒 = 𝟓𝟑
Step 1: Name the equation.
__________________

Step 2: Name the inverse.

_________________

Continued →
Step 3: Undo the addition part first (with subtraction)
𝟕𝒏 + 𝟒 = 𝟓𝟑
− 𝟒 −𝟒
𝟕𝒏 = 𝟒𝟗
Step 4: Undo multiplication part next (with division)
𝟕𝒏 = 𝟒𝟗
𝟕 𝟕 𝒏=𝟕
 𝒏=𝟕

𝟕𝒏 + 𝟒 = 𝟓𝟑

𝟕(𝟕) + 𝟒 = 𝟓𝟑

𝟒𝟗 + 𝟒 = 𝟓𝟑 
Let’s try another one:
𝒙
−𝟔=𝟓
𝟖
Step 1: Name the equation.
____________________

Step 2: Name the inverse.

____________________

Continued →
Step 3: Undo the subtraction part first (with addition)
𝒙
−𝟔=𝟓
𝟖

Step 4: Undo the division part next (with multiplication)

𝒙=
𝒙=
Solve the following equations. Be sure to include the variable
with your answer.
𝒎
1) 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟗 = 𝟏𝟖 2) + 𝟕 = 𝟏𝟗
𝟐

𝒏
3) − 𝟐𝟎 = 𝟓 4) 𝟔𝒓 + 𝟏𝟒 = 𝟖𝟔
𝟓

𝒚
5) 𝟏𝟎𝟒 = 𝟖𝒙 − 𝟖 6) 𝟐𝟐 = + 𝟏𝟕
𝟏𝟓
Solve the following equations. Be sure to include the variable
with your answer.
𝒚
1) −𝟒𝒙 + 𝟏𝟏 = −𝟐𝟏 2) − 𝟏 = −𝟖
𝟔

𝒄
3) − + 𝟏𝟐 = 𝟕 4) 𝟓𝒋 − 𝟐𝟏 = −𝟓𝟔
𝟓

𝒂
5) 𝟏𝟐𝟐 = −𝟔𝒃 + 𝟐𝟔 6) −𝟏𝟒 = − +𝟗
𝟖
The perimeter of a rectangle is 54 inches. Its length is 22 inches.
Write and solve an equation to determine its width?
22 in
Start by defining a variable!
width

width
Perimeter = 54 inches
Let 𝒘 =
22 in

2 times the width + 2 times the length = perimeter

𝟐𝒘 + 𝟒𝟒 = 𝟓𝟒
𝒘=
 Katie wants to buy a motor scooter that costs $518. She has
already saved $188 and will earn $22 each week from
babysitting jobs. Write and solve an equation to
see how many weeks it will take Katie to save
enough money to buy the motor scooter.
Define a variable!
Let 𝒘 =
amount saved each week + amount already saved = total cost

𝟐𝟐𝒘 + 𝟏𝟖𝟖 = 𝟓𝟏𝟖

Type 𝒘=
equation
Ashley spent half of her weekly allowance at the movies. To
earn extra money, her parents let her clean the house
windows for $8. What is Ashley’s weekly allowance if she
ended up with $14?
Define a variable!
Let 𝒂 =
amount of allowance spent at the movies + amount earned
washing windows = ending amount of money