MATH 151 Lecture Notes - Distributive Property
Document Summary
An equation is a mathematical statement that shows that two expressions are equal. To solve an equation, you need to find the value(s) of the variable(s) that make the equation true. Here are some steps to follow when solving equations: simplify each side of the equation by performing the same operations on both sides. Isolate the variable on one side of the equation. This may involve using the distributive property, combining like terms, or using the properties of equality to rearrange the terms: solve the equation by finding the value(s) of the variable that make the equation true. Here is an example of solving a simple equation: x + 3 = 8. We can simplify this equation by subtracting 3 from both sides: x = 8 - 3 = 5. We can check our solution by substituting it back into the original equation: x + 3 = 8 5 + 3 = 8 8 = 8.
