Chapter 21
Solving Algebraic Equations
Algebra was invented to solve problems that could not be solved easily by arithmetic alone. Most of these types of problems can be stated as equations that contain at least one variable. Solving an equation means finding the value of the variable in that equation. This process often relies on your ability to work with algebraic expressions (see Chapter 20).
The Problems You’ll Work On
Here are a few of the skills you’ll be working on as you solve the problems in this chapter:
Solving simple equations just by looking at them
Solving equations by isolating the variable
Removing parentheses from both sides of the equation before solving
Solving equations that contain decimals and fractions
Solving simple quadratic equations by factoring
What to Watch Out For
Here are a few guidelines to keep you on track while solving algebraic equations:
Always ...