1. Solving Multistep Equations

2. Distributive Property
Check! -
5(x - 4) = -10
5(x - 4) = -10 +
5(2 - 4) = -10 5x
- 20
= -10
+ 20
+ 20
5(-2) = -10
5x = 10
5x = 10 5 5
-10 = -10 
x = 2

3. Distributive Property
Check! -
-3(x - 5) = 12
-3(x - 5) = 12 +
-3(1 - 5) = 12
-3x
+ 15
= 12
- 15
-15
-3(-4) = 12
-3x = -3
-3x = -3 -3 -3
12 = 12 
x = 1

4. Equations – Combine Like Terms
3x x = 5
CHECK! 5x
- 5 = 5 /
3x x = 5 /
3(2) (2) = 5
5x = 10 / /
= 5
x = 2
5 = 5 

5. Equations – Combine Like Terms-
4x x = -4 +
CHECK!
-2x
+2 = -4 /
4x x = -4 /
4(3) (3) = -4
-2x = -6 / /
= -4
x = 3
-4 = -4 

6. Equations – Combine Like Terms
CHECK! - -
-5x x - 5 = 21 + + /
-12x
-3 = 21
-5x x - 5 = 21 /
-5(-2) (-2) - 5 = 21
-12x = 24 / /
= 21
x = -2
21 = 21 

7. Equations – Variables on both sides
Solve.
Check.
10a
10a = 7a
+ 21
10a = 7a+ 21 7a
- 7a
- 7a
10(7) = 7(7)+ 21 3a = 21
70 = 3 3
70 = 70  7 a =

8. Equations – Variables on both sides
Solve.
Check.
12x
12x = 7x 7x
+ 45
12x = 7x + 45
-7x
- 7x
12(9) = 7(9)+ 45 5x = 45
108 = 5 5
108 = 108  x = 9

9. Equations – Variables on both sides
Solve.
Check. 4x
+ 4
4x - 2 = 2x + 4
4x - 2 = 2x 2x
-2x
-2x
4(3)- 2 = 2(3)+ 4
- 2 = 4 2x
= 6 + 4 +2 +2 2x = 6
10 = 10  2 2
x = 3

10. Equations – Variables on both sides8x
+ 2
(3x + 5) = 7x
+ 10
8x + 8x 6x 6x
+ 10 = 7x
+ 10 7x 7x
14x
14x
+ 10 =
+ 10
-7x
-7x 7x
+ 10 =
+ 10
- 10
- 10 7x = 7 7
x = 0

11. Check 8x + 2 (3x + 5) = 7x + 10 8(0) + 2[3(0) + 5] = 7(0) + 10
[ ] =
[ 5] = 10
= 10
10 = 10 