Subject: Mathematics
Class: Grade 8
Topic: Solving Equations with Variables on Both Sides
Date: 21st - 25th of April, 2025
1. Write and Solve Equations with Variables on Both Sides
Equations with variables on both sides mean that the unknown (usually represented by letters
like x, y, etc.) appears on both the left and right sides of the equal sign.
General Strategy
1. Eliminate the variable from one side by using inverse operations.
2. Solve the remaining one-step or two-step equation.
3. Always simplify both sides of the equation first if needed.
Example 1
Solve:
3x + 5 = 2x + 12
Solution:
Step 1: Move variables to one side
3x - 2x + 5 = 12
x + 5 = 12
Step 2: Solve for x
x = 12 - 5 = 7
Answer: x = 7
Example 2
Solve:
5y - 3 = 2y + 6
Step 1: Subtract 2y from both sides
3y - 3 = 6
Step 2: Add 3 to both sides
3y = 9
Step 3: Divide by 3
y=3
Class Assessment
Solve the following:
1. 2x + 4 = x + 9
2. 6y - 5 = 3y + 4
3. 4x + 7 = 2x + 11
4. 5a + 2 = 3a + 10
5. x - 3
= 2x + 5
Homework
1. Solve: 3x + 8 = 2x + 13
2. Solve: 7y - 4 = 5y + 6
3. Solve: 2n - 3 = 4n + 5
4. Solve: 6m + 9 = 3m + 18
5. A number added to 7 is equal to the number minus 3. Find the number
Date: 23rd April, 2025
2: Solve Multi-Step Equations
Multi-step equations involve more than two steps to isolate the variable. This may include:
• Distributive property
• Combining like terms
• Moving variables to one side
• Solving simple equations
Example 1
Solve:
2(x - 3) + 4 = x + 5
Step 1: Apply distributive property
2x - 6 + 4 = x + 5
Step 2: Combine like terms
2x - 2 = x + 5
Step 3: Subtract x from both sides
x-2=5
Step 4: Add 2 to both sides
x=7
Example 2
Solve:
3(2x - 1) - x = 5x + 4
Step 1: Expand
6x - 3 - x = 5x + 4
Step 2: Combine like terms
5x - 3 = 5x + 4
Step 3: Subtract 5x from both sides
-3 = 4
This is not true, so the equation has no solution.
Class Assessment
Solve the following:
1. 2(x + 1) = x + 5
2. 3(x - 2) + 4 = 2x + 1
3. 5(x + 3) - 2 = 3x + 11
4. 4y - 7 = 2(y + 3)
5. 6(x - 4) = 2x + 8
Homework Assignment
Solve:
1. 3(x - 1) + 2 = x + 5
2. 2(y + 3) - y = y + 4
3. 4(x + 2) = 2x + 12
4. 2(a - 1) + 3a = 4a + 5
5. Solve and check: 5(x - 2) = x + 8
Date : 24th April, 2025
3: Translate Problems into Equations
In real life and word problems, we may be asked to find unknown values. The first step is to
translate the given situation into an algebraic equation.
Key Phrases
• “Sum of” → addition
• “Difference of” → subtraction
• “Product of” → multiplication
• “Quotient of” → division
• “Is equal to” → =
Example 1
Problem: The sum of twice a number and 5 is equal to 19. Find the number.
Solution:
Let the number be x.
Equation: 2x + 5 = 19
Subtract 5: 2x = 14
Divide by 2: x = 7
Example 2
Problem: John and Mary have the same amount of money. If John has ₦3,000 more than twice
what Mary has, how much money does each have?
Let Mary have ₦x.
Then John has ₦(2x + 3000).
Since they have the same amount:
x = 2x + 3000
Solve:
Subtract 2x: -x = 3000
Multiply both sides by -1: x = -3000
Since the answer is negative, check the problem setup. It may have meant John has ₦3,000 less
than twice Mary’s money.
Class Assessment
Translate and solve the following:
1. A number minus 4 is equal to 12. Find the number.
2. Three times a number increased by 7 is 25. Find the number.
3. The difference between a number and 9 is 6. What is the number?
4. If 4 more than twice a number is 18, find the number.
5. The product of a number and 5 is equal to 45. What is the number?
Homework
1. Translate: A number plus 6 is equal to 3 times the number.
2. If 7 is added to twice a number, the result is 27. What is the number?
3. A number minus 3 equals one-third of the number.
4. The sum of three consecutive integers is 45. Find the numbers.
5. The difference between 5 times a number and 10 is 20.
4: Determine the Number of Solutions
Concept Explanation
Some equations have:
• One solution (a single answer is possible)
• No solution (the equation is false for all values)
• Infinite solutions (true for all values of the variable)
Examples
1. One Solution
3x + 4 = 10
Subtract 4: 3x = 6
Divide by 3: x = 2
One solution
2. No Solution
2x + 3 = 2x + 5
Subtract 2x: 3 = 5 → False
No solution
3. Infinite Solutions
4x + 2 = 4x + 2
Subtract 4x: 2 = 2 → True
Infinite solutions
How to Identify Them
1. If variables cancel out and you get a false statement → No solution
2. If variables cancel out and you get a true statement → Infinite solutions
3. If you get a clear value for x → One solution
Class Assessment
Determine the number of solutions:
1. 3x + 2 = 3x + 2
2. 5x - 1 = 5x + 4
3. 6x = 12
4. 2x + 3 = 2x - 5
5. 7y - 9 = 7y - 9
Homework Assignment
State the number of solutions for each equation:
1. 4x + 6 = 4x + 2
2. 2y - 5 = 2y - 5
3. x + 3 = x + 5
4. 9x = 18
5. 3x - 7 = 3x - 7
