Solving Equations 2: Multi-Step Equations
Solving Equations with the Balance Strategy
Name:______________________________________ Class/Block:_________ Date:_______________
This activity uses Freudenthal Institutes’s Solving equations with balance-strategy (2) applet.
It is located at: http://www.fi.uu.nl/toepassingen/02017/toepassing_wisweb.en.html
Solve each equation by using Solving equations with balance-strategy (2):
Step 1 – Click on the “Make an equation yours” button on the left.
Step 2 – Type in your equation. If you wish to use exponents, fractions, square roots, and so on,
click on the appropriate button then click Add.
Step 3 – Choose the appropriate operation and enter the value needed to simplify the equation and
solve for the variable.
Step 4 – Record each step (see example below)
Example 1: Solve v – 9 = 4
Explain steps:
Add 9 to both sides
Show all steps of the problem solution
v – 9 =
4
+ 9
+ 9
Solution is 13
v
=
13
a
Example 2: Solve 0.8 = 5
Explain steps:

Add 9 to both sides
Solution is 13
Show all steps of the problem solution
a
0.8 = 5
5(0.8)

 4.0
=
a
5
(5)
= a
Solving Equations with A Balance Strategy applet © Freudenthal Institute – Tool and screenshots used with Permission
© Education Development Center, Inc., 2009. Adapted with permission from © EDC, 2005.
Part I.
1.)
-2s + 1 = - 9
Explain steps:
2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)
6.)
Show all steps of the problem solution
4x – 10 = 26
Explain steps:
Show all steps of the problem solution
110 = y – 52
Explain steps:
Show all steps of the problem solution
0.6 + r = 5.9
Explain steps:
Show all steps of the problem solution
k – 0.45 = 2.65
Explain steps:
Show all steps of the problem solution
½ +t = 1¾
Solving Equations with A Balance Strategy applet © Freudenthal Institute – Tool and screenshots used with Permission
© Education Development Center, Inc., 2009. Adapted with permission from © EDC, 2005.
7.)
8.)
Explain steps:
Show all steps of the problem solution
- 5/8 = x – 3/4
Explain steps:
Show all steps of the problem solution
b
 4 = 26
5
Explain steps:
Show all steps of the problem solution
2
k
3
Explain steps:
Show all steps of the problem solution
-2r + 1 = -9
Explain steps:
Show all steps of the problem solution

9.)
12 
=

10.)
Solving Equations with A Balance Strategy applet © Freudenthal Institute – Tool and screenshots used with Permission
© Education Development Center, Inc., 2009. Adapted with permission from © EDC, 2005.
Part II.
1.)
7g + 14 = 5g – 8
Explain steps:
2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)
Show all steps of the problem solution
-4d + 2(3 + d) = -14
Explain steps:
Show all steps of the problem solution
-24 = -4s + 2(3 + s)
Explain steps:
Show all steps of the problem solution
-10(2 + 7c ) = 5(-2 – 15c)
Explain steps:
Show all steps of the problem solution
k3
2
Explain steps:
Show all steps of the problem solution
6 
=

Solving Equations with A Balance Strategy applet © Freudenthal Institute – Tool and screenshots used with Permission
© Education Development Center, Inc., 2009. Adapted with permission from © EDC, 2005.