Algebra 1 : How to find the solution to an equation

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Algebra 1

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

Solve for :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

can be simplified to become

Then, you can further simplify by adding 5 and  to both sides to get .

Then, you can divide both sides by 5 to get .

Example Question #2 : Systems Of Equations

What number is six less than eight more than one half of four times the square of the greatest negative integer?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Turn the word problem into math.  Start at the end--what is the greatest negative integer?  -1!

Example Question #3 : Systems Of Equations

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 

Remember to cancel as you go--the 18 will cancel with the 27, the 4 will cancel with the 8, and so on:

 

Continue to reduce:

 

Example Question #4 : Systems Of Equations

Solve for :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve for , you must first combine the 's on the right side of the equation. This will give you .

Then, subtract  and from both sides of the equation to get .

Finally, divide both sides by  to get the solution .

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

Solve for :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, use the distributive property to simplify the right side of the equation: . Then, subtract and add 4 to both sides to separate the 's and the integers to get . Divide both sides by 3 to get .

Example Question #1 : Systems Of Equations

Solve for :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve for , first divide both sides by : . Then, subtract both sides by to get .

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

1.  First simplify the first expression:

 

 

2.  Then, simplify the next two expressions:

 

3.  Finally, add and subtract:

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

Solve for x.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

1.  First solve for the numerator by plugging in -2 for x:

2.  Then, solve the denominator by combining the fractions:

3.  Finally, "rationalize" the complex fraction by multiplying top and bottom by -2/5:

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

If x/y is equivalent to 12/20, what is the value of x?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 

Multiply both sides by the denominator (2y +4) to cancel it:

Now, use substitution to solve for x:

Substitute 10x for 6y in the first equation:

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors