Solving Literal Equations

Girl holding a phone with an equation showing on the screen.

Think about iconConsider the equation 5x = 30. You have had some experience solving one-step equations in earlier math courses. So it may be no surprise to you that to solve this equation for x, you must divide each term by 5. After doing so, you find that x = 6. The properties of real numbers and the properties of equality make it possible to perform such operations, while still maintaining the integrity of an equation. Get ready to extend your knowledge of these problems as you begin your study of literal equations.

5x/5
=
30/5

x = 6