How to Solve an Equation with Four Terms

Do you ever wonder why teachers start a problem the way they do?

There are four reasonable ways to start solving an equation like:

3x + 2 = 4x – 1

On this site I will always manipulate and move things around so that the equation were solving looks like:

#x + # = # (the three colors represent three different numbers)

I have done it here:

Have questions? Post them in the comments or request a solution.



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3 Responses to How to Solve an Equation with Four Terms

    • This works great for pre-teens. I would love to employ it on college students. Alas, by the time they are grownups, they are so freaked out that they need a little less big picture.

      And I like your method – no picking to be done, Malyn!

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