# A17b – Solving linear equations in one unknown algebraically where the unknown is on both sides of the equation

This is the students’ version of the page. Log in above for the teachers’ version.

Prerequisites
Essential: Essential for Part 2: This topic also overlaps considerably with: This topic also overlaps considerably with: A5a – Rearranging formulas to change the subject

# Part 1 – Solving linear equations in one unknown algebraically where the unknown is on both sides of the equation

Teacher resources for Part 1

• Slides in PPTX
• Slides in PDF (one slide per page, suitable for importing into IWB software)
• Worksheet (with space for student work)
• Handout (slides with exercises only; 4 per page for reduced printing)

# Part 2 – Solving linear equations involving algebraic fractions where the unknown is on both sides of the equation

Teacher resources for Part 2

Then you can then go about solving the equation. You may like to decide what you could do to one side of the equation (e.g. add, subtract, multiply or divide by a quantity, which could be a constant or an expression involving $$x$$) to make that side of the equation simpler. If you only do this to one side of the equation, you break the equation, so you’ll need to do it to the other side to repair the equation. In other words, you need to do the same thing to both sides. Then simplify both sides where possible. Repeat the process until you have solved the equation.