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Real-life situations are modeled by equations. At times, two operations are applied to a variable. Sometimes, the variable is on both sides of the equation. Then, that variable can be isolated to one side by transferring the variable terms using inverse operations. This lesson covers how to write and solve such two-step equations.

Catch-Up and Review

Here are a few recommended readings before getting started with this lesson.

Challenge

Bike Trip

Zain and Jordan planned an adventure across a vast desert landscape. They will cycle for three days until they reach a huge music festival! The first two days, Zain and Jordan need to cycle the same distance each day. On the third day, they will have miles remaining to be cycled.

Zain and Jordan cycling

The total distance Zain and Jordan cycle during the trip is miles. If they miscalculate their trip, they will miss the festival!

a Write an equation that represents the situation. Use as the variable.
b Solve the equation to find the distance Zain and Jordan plan to cover on each of the first two days.
Discussion

One- and Two-Step Equations

Equations can be named according to the minimum number of inverse operations needed to solve them.

One-Step Equations

A one-step equation is an equation that needs only one inverse operation to be solved. Below is an example of a one-step equation.
This equation can be solved by subtracting from both sides.

Two-Step Equations

A two-step equation is an equation that needs two inverse operations to be solved. Below is an example of a two-step equation.
This equation can be solved by first adding to both sides and then dividing both sides by
Note that the steps taken to undo each operation are performed in reverse order. This means that the second operation applied to the variable is undone first. Next, the first operation applied to the variable is then undone.
Example

Unfortunate Accident

Zain and Jordan are cycling along. Already on their first day, they ran into a problem! Zain's tire got a terrible flat and they do not have a spare to replace it. They need to buy a new tire.

Zain and Jordan cycling

They head into town to buy extra tires to be better prepared.

a Zain and Jordan decide to buy tires. They told the owner of the bike shop about their trip. He is so impressed that he gives them a discount. Together, they will need to pay This situation is modeled by the following equation, where is the price of a single tire.
Solve this equation to find the price of a single tire. Check the answer.
b While in town, they appease their appetites and order a ton of quesadillas.
Zain and Jordan eating
The two friends want to split the cost of the meal in half. Jordan decides to add as a tip. In total, Jordan pays This situation can be modeled by the following equation, where is the cost of their meal.
Solve this equation to find the total price of the meal. Then, check the answer.

Solution

a When solving equations with one variable, the variable is isolated on one side of the equation. This can be done by using inverse operations because inverse operations undo each other. In the given equation, the variable is multiplied by and then is subtracted from the product.
These operations need to be undone in reverse order. The first operation to be undone is the subtraction. The inverse operation of subtraction is addition, so is added to each side of the equation. The Addition Property of Equality ensures that both sides of the equation remain equal.
Now the multiplication can be undone. The inverse operation of multiplication is division, so both sides of the equation are divided by This does not change the solution to the equation by the Division Property of Equality.
The solution to the equation is which means that the cost of a single tire is The solution can be substituted for in the equation to check the answer.
Substituting for into the equation results in a true statement. This confirms that is the correct solution.
b Recall that the variable is isolated on one side when solving equations in one variable. Inverse operations play a role in isolating the variable because they undo each other. Consider the given equation. Here, the variable is divided by and then is added to the result.
These operations need to be undone in reverse order. This means undoing the addition first. The inverse operation of addition is subtraction, so the Subtraction Property of Equality is used to subtract from both sides of the equation.
Next, the division is undone. The inverse operation of division is multiplication, so the Multiplication Property of Equality is used and both sides of the equation are multiplied by
The solution to the equation is which means that the cost of the meal is The solution can be substituted for in the equation to check the answer.
Substituting for into the equation results in a true statement. This means that is the correct solution.
Discussion

Equations With Variables on Both Sides

An equation can have variable terms on both sides. When solving this type of equation, it is necessary to transfer all the variable terms to one side. Once all variable terms are on the same side, they can be combined. Consider an example equation with variable terms on both sides.
There are three main steps to follow when solving this type of equation.
1
Transferring Variable Terms to One Side
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Inverse operations and the Properties of Equality are used to move all the variable terms to one side of the equation. In this case, the Subtraction Property of Equality is used to subtract from both sides of the equation.
2
Combining Like Terms
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Then, the equation is simplified by combining like terms. This results in an equation with just one variable term.
3
Solving the Resulting Equation
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The resulting equation can then be solved like a regular equation.
The solution to the given equation is
Example

Taking a Break

On the second day of this ride to the festival, Zain and Jordan begin to wonder about some of the data from their ride.

Zain and Jordan resting by their bicycles
a Zain noticed that they covered one-fifth of the distance they planned for the day. Jordan said that they still have miles to go. The distance they covered so far is the difference of the total distance planned for the day and miles.
This equation models the described situation. Here, represents the total distance they planned for the day. Solve for their planned total distance Check the answer.
b Zain — chilling after a day of cycling — wondered how fatigue affects their pace. Luckily, Jordan was tracking their journey. It took them two-thirds of the time to cycle the first mile as it did the last mile. Additionally, cycling the first mile took minutes less than cycling the last mile.
This equation models the situation. The time it took to travel the last mile is represented by Solve this equation to find the difference. Check the answer.

Hint

a Use inverse operations to transfer all the variable terms to one side of the equation.
b Use the Properties of Equality to transfer all the variable terms to one side of the equation.

Solution

a In this equation, there are variable terms on both sides. All the variable terms should be transferred to one side using inverse operations. Then, they can be combined. In this case, the Subtraction Property of Equality can be used to subtract from both sides of the equation.
Once all the variable terms are on one side of the equation and combined, the equation becomes an equation with one variable.
It can then be solved by undoing the operations applied to the variable. In this case, this means using the Multiplication Property of Equality to multiply both sides of the equation by the reciprocal of the coefficient.
The solution to the equation is which means that Zain and Jordan planned to cycle miles. The solution can be substituted for every occurrence of in the original equation to check the answer.
Substituting for into the equation results in a true statement. This confirms that is the correct solution.
b The variable is isolated on one side when solving equations in one variable. In the case where there are variable terms on both sides of the equation, this means using inverse operations to move all the variable terms to one side. Consider the given equation.
The term on the right hand side can be transferred to the left hand side using the Subtraction Property of Equality. Then, the equation is simplified.
To solve the resulting equation, the Multiplication Property of Equality is used. This allows both sides of the equation to be multiplied by
The solution to the equation is which means that it took Zain and Jordan minutes to cycle the last mile. The solution can be substituted for every instance of in the original equation to check the answer.
Substituting for into the equation results in a true statement. This means that is the correct solution.
Pop Quiz

Solving Equations

Solve the equations by using the Properties of Equality. If necessary, give answers as decimals rounded to two decimal places.

Solve the equation
Example

Observing Nature

Zain and Jordan continued cruising along their cycling trip. The beauty of the ride became even more noticeable as they could hear songbirds! Some birds sang perched atop a power line.

A group of five birds perched on a power line.

A few more birds flew in and joined the flock. As a result, the number of birds doubled. Then, birds flew away. In the end, birds were left singing on the power line.

a Write an equation that models this situation. Use the variable
b Solve the equation.

Hint

a Represent the unknown quantity with the variable.
b Use inverse operations to transfer all the variable terms to one side of the equation.

Solution

a When modeling a real-life situation with an equation, the first step is representing an unknown quantity with a variable. Here, the unknown quantity is the number of birds that sat on the power line in the beginning. This quantity is represented by the variable
The number of birds on the power line after more birds flew in is twice the original number of birds, or After birds flew away, the number of birds on the power line becomes This expression is equal to Using this information, an equation can be written.
This equation models the given situation.
b When solving equations in one variable, the variable is isolated on one side of the equation. This can be done by using inverse operations because inverse operations undo each other. In this equation, the variable is multiplied by and then is subtracted from the product.
These operations need to be undone in reverse order. With that, the first operation to be undone is the subtraction. The inverse operation of subtraction is addition. Add to each side of the equation. The Addition Property of Equality ensures that both sides of the equation remain equal.
Now the multiplication can be undone. The inverse operation of multiplication is division, so both sides of the equation are divided by This does not change the solution to the equation by the Division Property of Equality.
The solution to the equation is This finding means that birds were sitting on the power line when Zain and Jordan first saw them.
Example

Reaching the Target

Zain and Jordan successfully reached the music festival! The line to enter the festival is super long. Each came up with their own way to describe the difference between the time they expected to wait in line and the time they will actually have to wait.

Zain says the line will take three times as originally thought. Jordan says it will take 40 minutes more than expected.
a Write an equation that models this situation. Use both descriptions provided by Zain and Jordan. Let variable represent their original expected wait time.
b Solve the equation.
c How long do Zain and Jordan have to wait in line? Give the time in minutes.

Hint

a Represent the unknown quantity with the variable. Zain and Jordan both described the same quantity.
b Use inverse operations to transfer all the variable terms to one side of the equation.
c Use Zain's or Jordan's description of the actual wait time.

Solution

a The first step when modeling a real-life situation with an equation is to represent an unknown quantity with a variable. Here, the time that Zain and Jordan originally expected to wait — the unknown quantity — can be represented using the variable
Zain's and Jordan's comments suggest two ways to write the actual wait time in terms of Zain said that the actual wait time was three times the expected wait time, or According to Jordan, the actual wait time was minutes longer than expected, or minutes.
In both cases, the value of the expression is the same. In other words, the actual wait time of Zain and Jordan is equal. This allows an equation to be written by setting both person's expressions equal to each other.
b When solving equations with one variable, isolate that variable on one side of the equation. This can be done by using inverse operations to move all the variable terms to one side. In this equation, using the Subtraction Property of Equality to subtract from both sides accomplishes that.
Next, the equation is solved like a regular equation with one variable. In this case, both sides of the equation are divided by This does not change the solution by the Division Property of Equality.