This method allows us to add or subtract the same element from both sides of the equation without changing the final result, that is, the outcome of the equation will not be affected by the fact that we have added or subtracted the same element from both sides.

Solving Equations by Adding or Subtracting the Same Number from Both Sides

Let's see what the logic of this method is:

José and Isabel, for example, are twin siblings who receive their weekly allowance for the first time.

José and Isabel receive 10 10 euros each, so at this moment they have exactly 10 10 euros per person.

After a month, each has received another 2 2 euros, so now each has 12 12 euros.

We see that adding 2 2 euros to the amount each of them had has not affected the equivalence between them: both still have the same amount of money.

Practice Solving Equations by using Addition/ Subtraction

Examples with solutions for Solving Equations by using Addition/ Subtraction

Exercise #1

Solve for X:

x7=14 x - 7 = 14

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the equation x7=14 x - 7 = 14 , we need to isolate x x .

Step 1: Add 7 to both sides of the equation to cancel out the -7 on the left side.
x7+7=14+7 x - 7 + 7 = 14 + 7
Step 2: Simplify both sides.
x=21 x = 21
Thus, the solution is x=21 x = 21 .

Answer

21 21

Exercise #2

Solve for X:

x+9=3 x + 9 = 3

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the equation x+9=3 x + 9 = 3 , we need to isolate x x .

Step 1: Subtract 9 from both sides of the equation to cancel out the +9 on the left side.
x+99=39 x + 9 - 9 = 3 - 9
Step 2: Simplify both sides.
x=6 x = -6
Thus, the solution is x=6 x = -6 .

Answer

6 -6

Exercise #3

Solve for X:

x5=10 x - 5 = -10

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the equation x5=10 x - 5 = -10 , we need to isolate x x .

Step 1: Add 5 to both sides of the equation to cancel out the -5 on the left side.
x5+5=10+5 x - 5 + 5 = -10 + 5
Step 2: Simplify both sides.
x=5 x = -5
Thus, the solution is x=5 x = -5 .

Answer

5 -5

Exercise #4

Solve for X:

x+7=12 x+7=12

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve for x x , we need to isolate it on one side of the equation. Starting with:

x+7=12 x+7=12

Subtract7 7 from both sides to get:

x+77=127 x+7-7=12-7

This simplifies to:

x=5 x=5

Therefore, the solution is x=5 x = 5 .

Answer

5 5

Exercise #5

Solve for Y:

y4=9 y-4=9

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve for y y , we need to isolate it on one side of the equation. Starting with:

y4=9 y-4=9

Add 4 4 to both sides to get:

y4+4=9+4 y-4+4=9+4

This simplifies to:

y=13 y=13

Therefore, the solution is y=13 y = 13 .

Answer

13 13

Exercise #6

Solve for Z:

z+2=8 z+2=8

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve for z z , we need to isolate it on one side of the equation. Starting with:

z+2=8 z+2=8

Subtract 2 2 from both sides to get:

z+22=82 z+2-2=8-2

This simplifies to:

z=6 z=6

Therefore, the solution is z=6 z = 6 .

Answer

6 6

Exercise #7

Solve for A:

a5=10 a-5=10

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve for a a , we need to isolate it on one side of the equation. Starting with:

a5=10 a-5=10

Add 5 5 to both sides to get:

a5+5=10+5 a-5+5=10+5

This simplifies to:

a=15 a=15

Therefore, the solution isa=15 a = 15 .

Answer

15 15

Exercise #8

Solve for B:

b+6=14 b+6=14

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve for b b , we need to isolate it on one side of the equation. Starting with:

b+6=14 b+6=14

Subtract6 6 from both sides to get:

b+66=146 b+6-6=14-6

This simplifies to:

b=8 b=8

Therefore, the solution is b=8 b = 8 .

Answer

8 8

Exercise #9

Solve for X:

x+7=12 x + 7 = 12

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve for x x , start by isolating x x on one side of the equation:
Subtract 7 from both sides:
x+77=127 x + 7 - 7 = 12 - 7 simplifies to
x=5 x = 5 .

Answer

5

Exercise #10

Solve for X:

x+8=10 x + 8 = 10

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve for x x , start by isolating x x on one side of the equation:
Subtract 8 from both sides:
x+88=108 x + 8 - 8 = 10 - 8 simplifies to
x=2 x = 2 .

Answer

2

Exercise #11

Solve for X:

x+3=7 x + 3 = 7

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve for x x , start by isolating x x on one side of the equation:
Subtract 3 from both sides:
x+33=73 x + 3 - 3 = 7 - 3 simplifies to
x=4 x = 4 .

Answer

4

Exercise #12

Solve for X:

6x=102 6 - x = 10 - 2

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the equation 6x=102 6 - x = 10 - 2 , follow these steps:

  1. First, simplify both sides of the equation:

  2. On the right side, calculate 102=8 10 - 2 = 8 .

  3. The equation simplifies to 6x=8 6 - x = 8 .

  4. To isolate x, subtract 6 from both sides:

  5. 6x6=86 6 - x - 6 = 8 - 6

  6. This simplifies to x=2 -x = 2 .

  7. Multiply both sides by -1 to solve for x:

  8. x=2×1=2 x = -2 \times -1 = 2 .

  9. Since the problem requires only manipulation by transferring terms, the initial approach to the equation setup should lead to x = 4 as the solution before re-evaluation.

Therefore, the correct solution to the equation is x=2 x=2 .

Answer

2

Exercise #13

Solve for X:

5x=124 5 - x = 12 - 4

Step-by-Step Solution

First, simplify the right side of the equation:
124=8 12 - 4 = 8
Hence, the equation becomes 5x=8 5 - x = 8 .
Subtract 5 from both sides to isolate x x :
5x5=85 5 - x - 5 = 8 - 5
This simplifies to:
x=3 -x=3
Divide by -1 to solve for x x :
x=3 x=-3
Therefore, the solution is x=3 x=-3 .

Answer

-3

Exercise #14

Solve for X:

7x=155 7 - x = 15 - 5

Step-by-Step Solution

First, simplify the right side of the equation:
155=10 15 - 5 = 10
Hence, the equation becomes 7x=10 7 - x = 10 .
Subtract 7 from both sides to isolate x x :
7x7=107 7 - x - 7 = 10 - 7
This simplifies to:
x=3 -x=3
Divide by -1 to solve forx x :
x=3 x=-3
Therefore, the solution is x=3 x=-3 .

Answer

-3

Exercise #15

Solve for X:

9x=167 9 - x = 16 - 7

Step-by-Step Solution

First, simplify the right side of the equation:
167=9 16 - 7 = 9
Hence, the equation becomes 9x=9 9 - x = 9 .
Since both sides are equal, x x must be 0 0 .
Therefore, the solution is x=0 x = 0 .

Answer

0

Topics learned in later sections

  1. Solving Equations by Multiplying or Dividing Both Sides by the Same Number
  2. Solving Equations by Simplifying Like Terms
  3. Solving Equations Using the Distributive Property
  4. First-degree equations with one unknown
  5. Solution of an equation