From the course: Learning Algebra: Solving Equations

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Keeping equations balanced

Keeping equations balanced

From the course: Learning Algebra: Solving Equations

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Keeping equations balanced

- In this last introductory lesson we will talk about a rule that is so important that I call it "The Golden Rule for Solving Equations". In order to arrive at the correct solution you must keep your equations balanced. This rule ensures that your equations are always balanced. So, the golden rule for solving equations is, whatever you do to one side of the equation, you must do to the other side of the equation. Just to give you a visual and help you to remember this rule, I'd like you to think of a scale. Here we have an equation, x - 3 = 2 Notice that the equal sign is right in the middle of the scale. This separates the two sides of the equation. If I decide that I need to add 3 to the left hand side of the equation notice that my scale is now unbalanced, because I've added 3 to the left hand side but I haven't done anything to the right hand side. If I add 3 to the right hand side as well notice that my scale is now back in balance. And this demonstrates our golden rule for…

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