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Middle School Archive

Browse Middle School Equations
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Selected answers to common questions:
    Solving simple linear equations.

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Setting Up Algebraic Word Problems [08/04/2003]

If each photocopy of a manuscript costs 4 cents per page, what is the cost, in cents, to reproduce x copies of an x-page manuscript?

Setting up an Equation [05/25/1999]

When I add 4 to a number I get the same result as halving the number and adding 10. What is the number?

Setting Up Equations [11/26/1997]

An airplane travels eight times as fast as a car. The difference in their speeds is 420 km/h. How fast is each vehicle travelling?

Simple Equation: 3y + 2 over 4 equals 7 [10/17/2001]

I think you have to subtract 2 on both sides, but I'm lost.

Simplify and Solve [01/15/1998]

Simplify one side of the equation. Then solve. .75y + y + 10 = 45

Simplifying Answers [12/17/1994]

How do you answer questions like this? (p^2q^-4)^2 (p^3q^5)^- 3

Simplifying Expressions [11/24/1997]

Solve: 2x - ( 3 - x ) = x - 7 .

Simultaneous Equations [07/01/2002]

A man has a total of 20 dimes and quarters. If the dimes were quarters and the quarters were dimes he would have 90 cents more than he has now. How many of each coin does he have?

Solutions to Equations [01/16/1997]

How do you make a table of values of x and y that make the equation 3/4y = -x true?

Solve for X [10/09/1999]

How can I solve equations like 4x - (1/2) = -3/2?

Solving a Linear Equation in One Variable [02/27/1998]

Solve for q: -13 - q - 9 = 5q - 9 - q.

Solving an Equation with Decimals [1/31/1996]

I can't figure out what 15.6 + z = 20.4 is. I need step-by-step help.

Solving an Equation with Fractions [1/30/1996]

v = 6 - 5/4 v. I don't know if this question is asking 6 minus 1 1/4 or 6 * 1 1/4.

Solving another Equation in One Variable [1/12/1996]

-2[3-2(x-1) + 5(2-x)] = -3[x+2(x-1)]

Solving a System of Three Equations in Three Variables [06/23/2007]

How can I find values of x, y, and z that make all three of these equations true: x + y + z = 10, x - 2y + z = -2, and x - y - z = -12?

Solving Basic Equations with Variables [11/28/2004]

How do I solve an equation like 8x + 6 = 3x + 21?

Solving Equations [6/28/1996]

Solving Systems of Equations: find k, if 7/x+y = k/x+2 = 11/2-y

Solving Equations with Fractions in Them [12/06/2004]

How do you solve an equation like -5/7 n = 35?

Solving Equations with Square Roots [03/28/2003]

When solving x + 1 = sqrt(x + 3), we can square both sides then solve the equation; however, we get an extra solution that doesn't work. Why?

Solving for a Variable in One Equation [3/18/1996]

I need to write the following in standard form and solve for the indicated variable: (2r+3)(2r-1) = -(3r+1)

Solving for One Variable of Many [05/30/2002]

How do you solve a formula with many variables for one of them?

Solving Linear Equations and the Scale Metaphor [08/26/2004]

When solving linear equations, why do we have to do the same operation on both sides of the equal sign?

Solving Linear Equations by Using Inverses [08/13/2003]

Solve for a in b = 5/7(a-8).

Solving Pairs of Equations by Substitution [11/26/1997]

x + 3y = - 5; 3x - 2y = 7.

Solving Problems With and Without Algebra [05/14/2002]

In a basketball game, Harold and Isaac scored a total of 19 points. Isaac and Jacob scored a total of 14 points. Isaac scored as many ponts as Harold and Jacob together. How many points did each player score? And how can I solve this without algebra?

Solving Simple Equations [02/23/1998]

Equations like 3(30+s) = 4(s+19) and others following the same form.

Solving Systems of Linear Equations [02/09/1999]

Can you help me solve simultaneous equations?

Solving Two Equations with Mixed Fractions [05/13/1998]

Steps to solving (2 2/3)x - 1 1/4 = 4 1/3 and (4 1/5)x - 2 = 3 1/3.

Splitting Peanuts [08/03/2002]

On a camping trip, the family had brought many bags of peanuts for snacks...

Step-by-step Solution of Equation in One Variable [05/13/1998]

Commutative, associative, distributive, and other laws of arithmetic applied to solve w in the equation 2 - 2(w + 6) = 2(w + 5).

Straight Line on the Graph [09/10/1998]

Let f(x) = ae^(kx) where a>0 and k are constants. Show that the graph of y = ln(f(x)) is a straight line.

Substituting Parameters for Numbers [11/29/2001]

I don't know what to do with both sides of the equation 17.20X/100 = X- 579.59.

Subtracting One Equation from Another [05/30/2001]

Why can you subtract one equation from another and get something meaningful that you can use to solve the equations?

The Sum of Two Numbers is 20... [11/03/1997]

Twice one number is 4 more than four times the other. Find the numbers.

Switching Dollars and Cents [10/07/1997]

How do I find an equation?

System Of Equations With Products Of Variables [10/29/2003]

I'm trying to solve a system of three equations and three variables where the variables are multiplied together, such as 'xy' and 'yz'. Substitution doesn't seem to be working very well - what's a good way to get started?

Three Simultaneous Equations [4/16/1996]

Can you help me solve this problem?

To Multiply or Divide? That Is the Question. [09/02/2003]

In a story problem, how do you know whether to multiply or divide?

Transposing Equations [07/14/1998]

I am having trouble when transposing. When y = 2x + 3, how do you find the value of x?

Turning an Equation Upside-Down [07/09/2001]

After this step: 2/h = (a+b)/ab, a book shows this: h/2 = (ab)/(a+b). Can you simply invert the fractions and maintain the equivalency?

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