Equations and Solutions

The solution to an equation is the number you can substitute for the variable that will make the equation true. For example, in the equation , if we put 3 in place of x then the equation will be true because .

To tell whether or not a number is a solution to an equation, all you have to do is substitute that number in for the variable and see whether or not it is true. If it is true, then the number is a solution. If it's false, then it is not.

Example: Is x = 5 a solution to ?

We need to sub in 5 for x.

This is not true. 5 - 11 = -6 not -16.That means that x = 5 is not a solution to this equation.


Practice: Tell whether or not the given value is a solution to the equation.

1) Is x = 2 a solution to x - 8 = -6?

2) Is y = -5 a solution to y + 3 = -8?

3) Is x = 10 a solution to 3x = 13?

4) Is a = 8 a solution to -4a = -32?

5) Is y = 4 a solution to 2x - 3 = 5?


Answers: 1) yes 2) no 3) no 4) yes 5) yes

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Algebra
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