Solving an Equation

SOLVING AN EQUATION

Use the information below to fill in your flow chart.

STEP 1: Are there parentheses?

• YES – Use the distributive property to remove them
• NO – Go to step 2

STEP 2: Are like terms combined?

• NO – Combine like terms (variables with same letter & exponent)
• YES – Go to step 3

STEP 3: Do you have variables (x’s) on both sides of the equal sign?

• YES – Use inverse operations (+ or –) to move the variables to one side of the equal sign
• NO – Go to step 4

STEP 4: Do you have constants (#’s) on both sides of the equal sign?

• YES – Use inverse operations (+ or –) to move the constants to the other side (the side without the variable) of the equal sign
• NO – Go to step 5

STEP 5: Is there a coefficient (#) in front of or below the variable?

• YES – Use inverse operations (multiplication or division) to eliminate the coefficient

Note:  When you are dividing by a fraction, remember to use KFC.

K – Keep the first number

F – Flip the second number

C – Change to multiplication

• NO – Go to step 6.\

STEP 6: Check your solution in the original equation.  Did it work?

• YES – You’re done
• NO – Redo the equation starting with step 1