Building and Solving Math Sentences

Expressions are combinations of numbers, variables (like \(x\) or \(y\)), and operations (like \(+\), \(-\), \(\times\), \(\div\)). An equation is like a math sentence: it states that two expressions are equal.

Working with Variables

Variables stand for unknown values. You'll start creating expressions like \(3x + 5\) and solving equations like \(2x = 8\).

Solving One-Step and Two-Step Equations

To find the value of a variable, you "undo" the math operations. For example, to solve \(x + 4 = 10\), subtract 4 from both sides.

Applications

Knowing how to write and solve equations helps with budgeting, figuring out distances, or solving puzzles where something is unknown.

Pro Tip

• Keep equations balanced by doing the same operation to both sides.