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Here are some examples of how to solve an algebraic equation:

Example 1: y + 11 = 18

(y + 11) - 11 = 18 - 11
y = 7

Example 2: 4×q = 12

(4×q)/4 = 12/4
q = 3

Example 3: m/5 = 6

(m/5)×5 = 6×5
m = 30

Example 4: h - 2 = 7

(h - 2) + 2 = 7 + 2
h = 9

When there is more than one operation, reverse the "outside" operation first. Follow the reverse of the order of operations to reverse the operations in an algebraic equation:

Example 5: 7g + 5 = 33

(7g + 5) - 5 = 33 - 5
7g = 28
(7g)/7 = 28/7
g = 4

Example 6: (4 + w)/6 = 8

((4 + w)/6)×6 = 8×6
(4 + w) = 48
(4 + w) - 4 = 48 - 4
w = 44

Example 7: 7×(2y + 6) = 56

(7×(2y + 6))/7 = 56/7
(2y + 6) = 8
(2y + 6) - 6 = 8 - 6
2y = 2
(2y)/2 = 2/2
y = 1

Example 8: 22 - x = 25

(22 - x) - 22 = 25 - 22
- x = 3
x = - 3

Remember to check your answers--plugging the answer in for the variable should make the equation true.

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