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Algebra basics (ASL)

Course: Algebra basics (ASL) > Unit 3

Lesson 1: One-step equations (ASL)
Math
Algebra basics (ASL)
Linear equations and inequalities (ASL)
One-step equations (ASL)
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One-step multiplication & division equations

Google Classroom
Learn to solve equations like "4x = 20" or "y/3 = 7".
Based on our understanding of the balance beam model, we know that to keep a true equation, we always have to do the same thing to both sides of an equation.
But how do we know what to do to both sides of the equation?

Multiplication and division are inverse operations

Here's an example of how division is the inverse operation of multiplication:
If we start with 7, multiply by 3, then divide by 3, we get back to 7:
7, dot, 3, divided by, 3, equals, 7
Here's an example of how multiplication is the inverse operation of division:
If we start with 8, divide by 4, then multiply by 4, we get back to 8:
8, divided by, 4, dot, 4, equals, 8

Solving a multiplication equation using inverse operations

Let's think about how we can solve for t in the following equation:
6, t, equals, 54
We want to get t by itself on the left hand side of the equation. So, what can we do to undo multiplying by 6?
We should divide by 6 because the inverse operation of multiplication is division!
Here's how dividing by 6 on each side looks:
6t=546t6=546          Divide each side by six.t=9          Simplify.\begin{aligned} 6t &= 54 \\\\ \dfrac{6t}{\blueD{6}} &= \dfrac{54}{\blueD{ 6}}~~~~~~~~~~\small\gray{\text{Divide each side by six.}} \\\\ t &= \greenD{9}~~~~~~~~~~\small\gray{\text{Simplify.}} \end{aligned}

Let's check our work.

It's always a good idea to check our solution in the original equation to make sure we didn't make any mistakes:
\qquad 6t=546⋅9=?5454=54\begin{aligned} 6t &= 54 \\ 6 \cdot \greenD9 &\stackrel{\large?}{=} 54\\ 54 &= 54 \end{aligned}
Yes, t, equals, start color #1fab54, 9, end color #1fab54 is a solution!

Solving a division equation using inverse operations

Now, let's try to solve a slightly different type of equation:
start fraction, x, divided by, 5, end fraction, equals, 7
We want to get x by itself on the left hand side of the equation. So, what can we do to cancel out dividing by 5?
We can multiply by 5 because the inverse operation of division is multiplication!
Here's how multiplying by 5 on each side looks:
x5=7x5⋅5=7⋅5          Multiply each side by five.x=35          Simplify.\begin{aligned} \dfrac x5 &= 7 \\\\ \dfrac x5 \cdot \blueD{5} &= 7 \cdot \blueD{5}~~~~~~~~~~\small\gray{\text{Multiply each side by five.}} \\\\ x &= \greenD{35}~~~~~~~~~~\small\gray{\text{Simplify.}} \end{aligned}

Let's check our work.

\qquad x5=7355=?77=7\begin{aligned} \dfrac x5 &= 7 \\\\ \dfrac{\greenD{35}}{5} &\stackrel{\large?}{=} 7\\\\ 7 &= 7 \end{aligned}
Yes, x, equals, start color #1fab54, 35, end color #1fab54 is a solution!

Summary of how to solve multiplication and division equations

Awesome! We just solved a multiplication equation and a division equation. Let's summarize what we did:
Type of equationExampleFirst step
Multiplication equation6, t, equals, 54Divide each side by six.
Division equationstart fraction, x, divided by, 5, end fraction, equals, 7Multiply each side by five.

Let's try solving equations.

Equation A
  • Current
Which operation would help solve for w?
8, w, equals, 72
Choose 1 answer:
w, equals
  • Your answer should be
  • an integer, like 6
  • a simplified proper fraction, like 3, slash, 5
  • a simplified improper fraction, like 7, slash, 4
  • a mixed number, like 1, space, 3, slash, 4
  • an exact decimal, like 0, point, 75
  • a multiple of pi, like 12, space, start text, p, i, end text or 2, slash, 3, space, start text, p, i, end text