Solving Math Equations

Video Transcript

"Ok so how do you solve math equations. I'm Jimmy and I'm here to help you start the process of solving math equations by starting with the very basic example. Now I have to tell you that at the beginning of the math equation what variable, what letter to solve for. Now when they tell you what letter to solve for, that means they want you to get the letter by itself. So here's a example to help get you started in that process. Seven x minus 10 is equal to 11. Now there's two operations at work here. That multiplication, seven is multiplied with the x and subtracting ten. Now most folks having been familiar with the order of operations , they'll think ok well multiplication comes before subtraction right. Well unfortunately what you have to think about is in solving equations you have, if they ask you to solve for a particular variable, they want you to get that by itself. So what you want to do is get the terms that have nothing to do, and within this case x, out to the other side. If you want to solve for x, you need to move the non x terms over. Take this minus ten for example, that has nothing to do with the x. Go ahead and move it over. And as you know with solving equations you have to perform the opposite operation. Because this is being subtracted by ten you add ten but you have to balance it on the other side, so you have to add ten as well. So you have seven x equals two, twenty one. Now you look at the other operation. Seven is multiplied at the x, so you have to do the opposite. Divide both sides by seven. You have to maintain the balance when it comes to solving an equation. Now seven divided by seven that's one. So you are left with x. Twenty one divided by seven is three and that's how you solve an equation. I'm Jimmy and I just gave you an example on how to do that."