Isolate Variable

Isolate a variable by:
1) Changing all "-" signs to "+ the opposite"
2) Use the distributive property
3) Identify like terms
4) Combine like terms
5)Add the opposite
6)Divide since division is the opposite of multiply

Isolate variable with mixed numbers

Isolate a variable

"Isolating a variable" is the way to describe the process we do when finding the value for a variable in an equation. All operations in mathematics can be paired with their inverse operation. When thinking of the solution to x+2=5 most student's brain is saying "what number do I add to 2 to get a 5?" This is all fine and dandy until you get to a more complicated problem. That is why certain language of the discipline must be introduced. Words and phrases such as: inverse operation, multiplication property of equality, addition property of equality, and combining like terms. With this language in place we can now think of x+2=5 as actually saying "what number do i get when I subtract 2 from 5?"