The word equals divides the sentence into what should be on the left-hand side and what should be on the right-hand side of the equation.
Equation: 10+8a=11d-6 Solution: a=11/8d-2
Practice makes perfect
Every equation has an equals sign and values or expressions on either side of it. Key phrases such as is,is equal to, and equals tell us about the placement of the equals sign.
Ten plus eight times a numbera =
eleven times numberdminus six.
On the left-hand side, we have the keywords plus and times. These words tell us the operations that will be used in our equation. Plus indicates addition, while times indicates multiplication.
Tenplus eight times a numbera
10 + 8a
On the right-hand side, the keywords are times and minus. Once again, times tells us to multiply, and minus tells us to subtract.
Eleven times numberdminus six
11d - 6
Putting these sides together, we have a complete equation.
10+ 8a= 11d- 6
Finally, we can solve the equation we have written. We will do this using inverse operations and following the Properties of Equality.
