Algebra - How To Solve Equations Quickly!

The Organic Chemistry Tutor
15 Jul 201725:04

TLDRThis video tutorial offers a comprehensive guide on solving two-step algebraic equations. It covers various scenarios including equations with fractions, parentheses, variables on both sides, and even those involving decimals. The instructor demonstrates step-by-step solutions, emphasizing the importance of isolating variables and using opposite operations like subtraction and division to find the value of 'x'. The video also touches on handling multiple variables and parentheses, providing a solid foundation for beginners in algebra.

Takeaways

  • 🔍 Identify the language of the video title as English to ensure takeaways are in the same language.
  • 📚 The video focuses on solving two-step equations, covering various types including those with fractions, parentheses, variables on both sides, and decimals.
  • 📝 To isolate the variable 'X', perform operations such as subtraction or division on both sides of the equation to eliminate constants and coefficients.
  • 📉 For equations with fractions, multiply both sides by the least common multiple of the denominators to eliminate the fractions.
  • 📈 When dealing with parentheses, use the distributive property to simplify and solve the equation.
  • 🔢 In equations with decimals, multiply all terms by a power of 10 to shift the decimal point and eliminate the decimals, simplifying the equation to whole numbers.
  • 🧩 Combine like terms on the same side of the equation to simplify the process of isolating the variable.
  • 🔄 To move variables from one side of the equation to the other, perform the inverse operation (addition if there was subtraction, or vice versa).
  • 📉 Check the solution by substituting the found value of 'X' back into the original equation to ensure both sides balance.
  • 📚 The video also mentions an algebra course on Udemy for further learning, covering a wide range of topics from basic arithmetic to complex numbers and sequences.
  • 📝 Each section of the mentioned course includes quizzes to help reinforce learning and prepare for tests.

Q & A

  • What is the first step in solving a basic two-step equation like 3x + 5 = 17?

    -The first step is to isolate the variable x by performing the opposite operation of what is done to it. In this case, since 5 is added to 3x, you subtract 5 from both sides of the equation.

  • How do you solve the equation 4x + 3 = 19?

    -Start by subtracting 3 from both sides to eliminate the constant term on the left side. Then, divide both sides by 4 to isolate x, which gives you the solution x = 4.

  • What should you do if you have a term like 17 - 5x on one side of the equation?

    -You need to get rid of the constant term on the left side first. Subtract 17 from both sides, then divide by -5 to solve for x, which will give you a positive result.

  • How do you approach an equation with a fraction like 9 = 3 + x/4?

    -First, subtract 3 from both sides to isolate the fraction. Then, to eliminate the fraction, multiply both sides by the denominator of the fraction, which is 4 in this case.

  • What is the process for solving an equation with a variable on both sides, such as 13 - 2x = 4x?

    -You should move all x terms to one side by adding 2x to both sides and adding 5 to both sides to move the constant terms to the other side. Then, divide by the coefficient of x to find the solution.

  • How do you deal with parentheses in an equation, as in 3 * (2x - 4) + 1 = 7?

    -Use the distributive property to eliminate the parentheses by multiplying the term outside the parentheses (3 in this case) by each term inside the parentheses. Then combine like terms and solve for x.

  • What is the least common multiple method used for when solving equations with fractions?

    -The least common multiple method is used to eliminate fractions from an equation by multiplying every term by the least common multiple of the denominators, thus converting all fractions to whole numbers.

  • How do you handle an equation with decimals, like 2x + 0.3 = 1.5?

    -You can either solve it directly or eliminate the decimals by multiplying every term by a power of 10 that moves the decimal point to the right, making all numbers whole.

  • What is the purpose of the course mentioned in the script, and where can it be found?

    -The course is designed to help students master various algebra topics, including basic arithmetic, fractions, linear equations, inequalities, polynomials, and more. It can be found on Udemy by searching for 'algebra'.

  • How does the script suggest checking the solution to an equation after solving it?

    -The script suggests plugging the found solution back into the original equation to see if both sides of the equation are equal, which would confirm that the solution is correct.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Introduction to Solving Two-Step Equations

This paragraph introduces the topic of solving two-step equations, covering basic concepts such as equations with fractions, parentheses, variables on both sides, and decimals. It begins with a simple example of the equation 3x + 5 = 17, demonstrating the process of isolating the variable 'x' by performing subtraction and division operations. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of understanding the opposite operations to solve for 'x', and it invites viewers to try solving similar equations like 4x + 3 = 19.

05:02

📚 Advanced Two-Step Equation Examples

The second paragraph delves into more complex two-step equations, including those with variables on both sides and equations that require moving all variables to one side. It provides step-by-step solutions for equations like 17 - 5x = 2 and 9 = 3 + x/4, showcasing the process of subtracting constants, dividing by coefficients, and checking the solution by substituting back into the original equation. The paragraph reinforces the methodical approach to solving equations and encourages viewers to practice with additional examples.

10:04

📘 Equations with Multiple Variables and Parentheses

This paragraph addresses equations that contain multiple 'x' variables and parentheses, such as 3x + 8 + 5x = 32. It explains the strategy of combining like terms and then solving the simplified equation. The paragraph also covers problems with parentheses on both sides of the equation, illustrating the use of the distributive property to eliminate them. It provides a methodical approach to solving these types of equations and offers additional examples for practice.

15:10

🎯 Solving Equations with Fractions and Decimals

The fourth paragraph focuses on solving equations with fractions and decimals. It discusses different strategies, such as simplifying the equation first or eliminating all fractions by finding a common multiple. Examples with two and three fractions are provided, along with the process of multiplying through by a common multiple to clear the fractions. The paragraph also touches on dealing with decimals by scaling up the equation to eliminate them and then solving the resulting whole number equation.

20:13

📚 Final Examples and Algebra Course Promotion

The final paragraph presents the last set of examples involving equations with rounded numbers, which are solved by scaling up to eliminate decimal places. It concludes with a promotion for an algebra course available on Udemy, detailing the course content and the various topics covered, such as basic arithmetic, fractions, linear equations, inequalities, polynomials, factoring, systems of equations, quadratic equations, and more. Each section of the course includes a quiz for review, and the paragraph invites viewers to check out the course for further learning.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Two-step equations

Two-step equations are algebraic equations that require two fundamental operations to solve for the variable. In the context of the video, these operations often involve moving terms from one side of the equation to the other and then isolating the variable by performing inverse operations such as subtraction and division. For example, the script mentions solving '3x + 5 = 17' by first subtracting 5 from both sides and then dividing by 3 to find the value of x.

💡Isolate the variable

Isolating the variable means to manipulate the equation in such a way that the variable is alone on one side of the equation, which is a necessary step in solving for its value. The video script illustrates this by showing how to move constants to the other side of the equation to get '3x' by itself, as seen in the equation '3x + 5 = 17'.

💡Opposite operations

In the process of solving equations, opposite operations are used to cancel out terms. For instance, if a term is added to a variable, the opposite operation, which is subtraction, is applied to both sides of the equation to eliminate that term. The script demonstrates this with the subtraction of 5 from both sides in the equation '3x + 5 = 17' to isolate the variable.

💡Distributive property

The distributive property is a fundamental algebraic principle that allows for the multiplication of a term across a group of terms within parentheses. In the video script, this property is used to simplify expressions like '3 * (2x - 4)' by multiplying 3 by both 2x and -4, resulting in '6x - 12'.

💡Combining like terms

Combining like terms involves adding or subtracting terms in an equation that have the same variable raised to the same power. The script shows this process when it combines '3x + 5x' to form '8x', simplifying the equation and moving closer to isolating the variable.

💡Fractions in equations

Fractions in equations present a challenge as they may require finding a common denominator or multiplying through by a common multiple to eliminate them. The video script addresses this by showing how to deal with fractions, such as multiplying every term by the denominator to clear the fraction, as in 'x / 4' being multiplied by 4 to become 'x'.

💡Decimals in equations

Decimals in equations can be handled by clearing them to make the equation easier to solve. The script mentions multiplying every term by a power of 10 to shift the decimal point and convert the equation into a whole number format, such as multiplying '2x + 0.3' by 10 to get '20x + 3'.

💡Least common multiple (LCM)

The least common multiple is the smallest number that is a multiple of two or more numbers. In the context of the video, the LCM is used to eliminate fractions by multiplying every term in the equation by this number, as shown when the script finds the LCM of 2 and 3 to be 6 and uses it to clear the fractions in the equation.

💡Parentheses in equations

Parentheses in equations group terms together and can affect the order in which operations are performed. The video script shows how to deal with parentheses by using the distributive property to eliminate them, as in the example '3 * (2x - 4)' where the 3 is distributed to both 2x and -4.

💡Variables on both sides

When variables appear on both sides of an equation, the goal is to move all variable terms to one side and constants to the other, facilitating the isolation of the variable. The script illustrates this by moving '5x' from the left to the right side of the equation and adding constants to both sides to simplify the equation to '3x = 12'.

Highlights

Introduction to solving two-step equations with various elements like fractions, parentheses, variables on both sides, and decimals.

Basic approach to solving equations by isolating the variable, demonstrated with the example 3x + 5 = 17.

Technique of performing opposite operations to isolate variables, illustrated through subtraction and division.

Example of solving 4x + 3 = 19, emphasizing the process of subtraction and division to find the variable's value.

Method for solving equations with a variable on the opposite side, using the equation 17 - 5x = 2 as an example.

The concept of eliminating fractions in equations by using multiplication, shown with the equation 9 = 3 + x/4.

How to check work by plugging the solution back into the original equation to ensure correctness.

Solving equations with multiple variables on one side, such as 3x + 8 + 5x = 32, by combining like terms.

Approach to equations with variables on both sides, focusing on moving all variables to one side and constants to the other.

Using the distributive property to solve equations with parentheses, like 3 * 2x - 4 + 1 = 7.

Dealing with equations that have parentheses on both sides, requiring the use of the distributive property.

Solving equations with multiple fractions by finding a common multiple to eliminate them, demonstrated with an example.

Technique for dealing with decimals in equations by multiplying through by a power of 10 to eliminate the decimal places.

The final example of solving an equation with rounded numbers to the hundreds place by scaling up the equation.

Promotion of an algebra course on Udemy that covers a wide range of topics from basic arithmetic to complex numbers.

Description of the course content, including sections on basic arithmetic, fractions, linear equations, inequalities, polynomials, and more.