Simple equations take the form or . To solve them we have to end up with x=?.

For the first simpler one we can use the caterpillar method.

*4 +1 29

÷4 - 1 29

Now work back from 29 to get

The equation is similar. Using the method above we have,

*(-2) +5 9

÷(-2) - 5 9

Then

The second equation is trickier. We have 's on both sides. We can move the to the left hand side and the to the rigth hand side. We have to use the rule, “if it changes side, it changes sign”. The becomesand the becomes . We obtain

Both sides now simplify to give

Then

The most important thing to remember is to change the signs of whatever you move. A term only changes side if it moves to the other side of an equals sign, and if it moves to the other side of an equals sign it always changes sign.