Finding Mistakes in One-Step Equations
One-step equations are simple math problems where you need just one operation to find the value of a variable (like x or y). These equations are super important in math, but even small errors can lead to wrong answers.
When adding or subtracting, double-check your calculations! For example, in "3x - 5 = 10," a common mistake is adding 5 to both sides and writing x = 15. The correct solution is to add 5 to both sides to get 3x = 15, then divide by 3 to find x = 5.
Multiplication and division errors happen too! In "2y/4 = 6," you might think y = 12, but that's wrong. The correct way is to multiply both sides by 4 to get 2y = 24, then divide by 2 to find y = 12.
Pro Tip: Think of equations like a balance scale - whatever you do to one side, you must do to the other side too!
Watch out for using the wrong operations. If you have "p + 7 = 15," you need to subtract 7 from both sides (not add) to get p = 8. Remember to use the opposite operation to isolate the variable!