Key: Whatever you do to one side of the equation, do the same on the other side
Case 1 example: 2n = 6
Idea: divide by the coefficient of the variable.
(It's the same as saying: multiply by the inverse of the coefficient)
Case 2 example: n - 5 = 0
Idea: separate the numerical value.
(It's the same as saying: move the numerical value to the other side of the equation)
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Simplify both left and right hand sides of the equation.
Idea: expand and group like terms on both sides of the equation.
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Isolate the desired variable.
Idea: to move the desired variable to one side of the equation and everything else on the other side of the equation.
- Separate: apply the one step method
- Check: verify by substitution