Luttrell 2012
27
Name: ______________________
Date: _____
2k-Solving for a Variable (Multiple Like Terms)
When faced with an equation that has multiple terms of the same variable you need to solve, get
those terms together on one side of the equation. It doesn’t matter what side of the equation you
move the terms to, as shown below. You may have to simplify before you can move terms
around. There are many alternate methods of solving for a variable; valid methods require the
use of the Field Axioms and PEMDAS.
Example: 2(3
w
+ 2) - 12 = 3
w
- 11
6
w
+ 4 - 12 = 3
w
- 11
6
w
- 8 = 3
w
- 11
6
w
- 3
w
- 8 = 3
w
- 3
w
- 11
or
6
w
- 6
w
- 8 = 3
w
- 6
w
- 11
3
w
- 8 = - 11 -8 = -3
w
- 11
3
w
- 8 + 8 = 8 - 11
11 - 8 = -3
w
-11 + 11
3
w
= -3
3 = -3
w
3
w
÷3 = -3÷3
3÷(-3) = -3
w
÷(-3)
w
= -1
-1 =
w
Solve for the variable:
1. 8
x
- 2(
x
- 8) + 4
x
= - 4
2. 4
x
- 2(
x
+3) - 4
x
= -3
3. - 3(
x
+ 5) = 10 - 2
x
4. 12
z
- 3(
z
- 7) = -(5
z
+ 7)
5. -6(
w
- 3) = 3
w
- 9
6. 16
x
- 4(
x
- 8) + 8
x
= -8
*7. 5
y
- [7 - (2
y
- 1)] = 3(
y
- 5) + 4(
y
+ 3)
8.
x
x
x
4
2
3
13
6
+ + =
