Recall two of the methods to solve equations, using mental math and using a table of values.
See solution.
Practice makes perfect
We need to find the solution for the equation x+4=13. This can be done in quite a few ways. We will illustrate two of them.
Solving Using Mental Math
One way to solve this equation is by thinking about the meaning of the number sentence and using mental math.
Equation
Think
Solution
Check
x +4 = 13
What number plus 4 equals 13 ?
9
9 + 4 = 13 âś“
We can see that x=9 is the solution to the equation x+4=13.
Solving Using a Table of Values
Another way we can solve the equation is by using a table of values.
x
x +4
Value of x+4
7
7+4
11
8
8+4
12
9
9+4
13 âś“
Notice that, when using a table of values, we can start using any value. We need to keep trying values until we reach the correct one.
Conclusions
For this particular equation, mental math was easier and faster when compared to using a table of values. This is because the equation wasn't very complicated and didn't involve many steps. However, there are cases where a table of values could be a better option. For example, if we wanted solve 3(2x+5)=24, mental math would be complicated to follow.
