In an algebraic expression,

there are terms and

variables:

A method of Term Term

calculating,
using letters to
represent the Variables
numbers and
signs to show the The letters in the expression are
relations called variables because they can
represent many different
between them. numbers
 Let’s say that x = 4 and y = 5
Replacing a variable with a number in an
expression is called substitution.
 An equation is a
mathematical sentence that
contains an equal sign.

P The value of the left side of the equation must be the

same as the value of the right side.
P Some equations can be true, others can be false.
P A number that replaces a variable to make an equation
true is called a solution of the equation.
P Some equations can be solved mentally using a method
called inspection.
The only number that can be inserted
for n that will make the left side equal to
the right side is 4.

The solution ˆ is n = 4
With this method, you must isolate the variable. That means that
you must add something to the variable side that will have the
effect of cancelling out all the non-variable numbers. This will
leave the variable by itself on one side of the equal sign.

Whatever number you add to the variable side must also be added
to the other side of the equation.

x-4=9 The solution is x = 13

x-4+4=9+4
x = 13
With this method, you must isolate the variable. That means that
you must subtract something from the variable side that will have
the effect of cancelling out all the non-variable numbers. This will
leave the variable by itself on one side of the equal sign.

Whatever number you subtract from the variable side must also be
subtracted from the other side of the equation.

x+4=9 The solution is x = 5

x+4-4=9-4
x=5
Again, you must isolate the variable. That means that you must
divide the variable side by a number that will have the effect of
cancelling out all the non-variable numbers. This will leave the
variable by itself on one side of the equal sign.

Whatever number you divide the variable side by, you must also
divide the other side of the equation by the same number.

3x = 18 The solution is x = 6
3x ÷ 3 = 18 ÷ 3
x=6
With this method, you also isolate the variable. That means that
you must multiply the variable side by a number that will have the
effect of cancelling out all the non-variable numbers. This will
leave the variable by itself on one side of the equal sign.

Whatever number you multiply the variable side by, you must also
multiply the other side of the equation by that number as well.

x/2=4 The solution is x = 8

x/2x2=4x2
x=8
 Equations can have terms that the same variable parts. These
are called like terms. Equations can also have terms that have
variables that are different. These are called unlike terms.

x + 2x + 4x - x $ Like Terms
4x + 2y - 2x - y $ Unlike Terms
When solving such an equation, you must gather, or combine all
the like terms as follows:

4x + 2y - 2x - y
= 4x - 2x + 2y - y
= 2x + y
Sometimes, a variable expression or equation will contain brackets.
These brackets tell you that there is a multiplication relationship
between the numbers contained inside the brackets and the value
immediately before the brackets.

In other words, to expand an expression with brackets, you must

remove the brackets by multiplying. This is done by using the
distributive property.
Theory Applied

2x - 3 = 5
2x = 5 + 3
2x = 8
x=8÷2
x=4