Solving Equations
©Mathematics Education Centre,
Loughborough University
Strategies
• Think of the equation as items on a see-saw
• What ever you do to one side you must do to
the other
• Keep in balance
©Mathematics Education Centre,
Loughborough University
?
£2.00
£1.00
Cost =
Price of melon + Price of 2 Oranges
£2.00 =
£1.00
©Mathematics Education Centre,
Loughborough University
+ Price of 2 Oranges
?
£2.00
£1.00
£1.00
Remove melon
Cost =
Price of melon + Price of 2 Oranges
£1.00 =
©Mathematics Education Centre,
Loughborough University
Price of 2 Oranges
Do the same to both sides
Want to know the
price of 2 oranges
Take £1.00 off
both sides
£1.00
£1.00
0
+
Price of 2
+
Oranges
Price of 2
Oranges
− £1.00
Price of 2
+ Oranges
©Mathematics Education Centre,
Loughborough University
=
£2.00
=
=
£2.00 − £1.00
£1.00
Do the same to both sides
Price of 2 Oranges
Halve or
divide by 2 for
1 orange
Price of 1 Orange
©Mathematics Education Centre,
Loughborough University
=
£1-00
Halve or
divide by 2 for
1 orange
=
50p