Solving One-Step Equations

Solving One-Step Equations Page 1 of 5
Accompanying Resources: Study Guide, Fun Activity, Boom Cards, Assessment

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Inverse Operations

To solve a one-step equation, we'll need to use inverse operations. Inverse operations are operations that "undo" each other. If you add 10 to a number, you can undo that by subtracting 10. If you multiply a number by 3, you can undo that by dividing by 3. Addition and subtraction are inverses. You can use addition to cancel out subtraction and vice versa. Multiplication and division are also inverses.

When you're solving an equation, the goal is to get the variable by itself. A "one-step equation" means there is only one step that needs to be done to solve for the variable. To get the variable by itself, you need to use the inverse operation. It's always a good idea to check your answer when possible. We'll show you how to plug your answer back into the equation to make sure it's correct.