2.  A clydesdale colt weighed 125 pounds at birth. In each of its first 12 months, it gained the same amount of weight. At the end of the first year, it weighed 1325 pounds. How much weight did it gain each month?  12w + 125 = 1325 To solve a two step equation for a variable: You must isolate the variable on one side. This means you must cancel out/remove all terms on the same side as the variable. Use inverse operations to do this. 1.Start with anything that is not attached to the variable (addition or subtraction). Use inverse operations and remember commandment #8: Thou shalt do to one side of the equation what thou does’t to the other. 2.Remove any coefficients/division by using inverse operations. 3.If the variable is a negative number, divide both sides by -1.