1. Math Objective: Solve Two-Step Equations
Algebra and Functions 4.1

2. What??? I just learned 1-step!
Relax. You’ll use what you already know to solve 2-step equations.

3. So, what’s first?
You need to break up the equation into its two steps.

4. STEP 1
The first step will always be either adding or
subtracting. + -

5. ÷ • STEP 2 The second step will always be either
multiplying or dividing. ÷ •

6. Follow these steps to solve two step equations:
Draw “the river”- Two lines around your equal sign to divide two sides of equation.
Beginning with the side of the equation with the variable, add or subtract to get rid of the constant.
Simplify.
Multiply or Divide to isolate your variable.
Simplify to solve for the variable.
Check your answer.

7. Follow the steps to solve the equation:
Draw “the river”
Add 3 to both sides
Simplify
Clear the fraction. Multiply both sides by 2
Check your answer
= - 4
x = -8
-4 – 3 = -7
2 · · 2

8. 1) Solve 2x - 1 = -3 + 1 + 1 2x = -2 2 2 x = -1 2(-1) - 1 = -3
2x = -2
x = -1
2(-1) - 1 = -3
-2 – 1 = -3
Draw “the river”
Add 1 to both sides
Simplify
Divide both sides by 2
Check your answer

9. 2) Solve + 4 + 4 3 · · 3 x = 36 12 – 4 = 8 Draw “the river”
3 · · 3
x = 36
12 – 4 = 8
Draw “the river”
Add 4 to both sides
Simplify
Clear the fraction -Multiply both sides by 3
Check your answer

10. 3) Solve -5n +7 = 22 - 7 - 7 -5n = 15 -5 -5 n = -3 -5(-3) +7 = 22
-5n = 15
n = -3
-5(-3) +7 = 22
= 22
Draw “the river”
Subtract 7 from both sides
Simplify
Divide both sides by -5
Check your answer

11. 4) Solve + 2 + 2 4 · · 4 x = 32 8 – 2 = 6 Draw “the river”
4 · · 4
x = 32
8 – 2 = 6
Draw “the river”
Add 2 to both sides
Simplify
Clear the fraction -Multiply both sides by 4
Check your answer

12. 5) Solve 3y – 1 = 8
A. y = 3
B. y = -3
C. y =
D. y =
Answer Now

13. 6) Solve 5z + 16 = 51 A. z = -35 B. z = -7 C. z = 35 D. z = 7
Answer Now