T2T || FAQ || Ask T2T || Teachers' Lounge || Browse || Search || Thanks || About T2T
View entire discussion
[<< prev] [ next >>]
From: Em <firstname.lastname@example.org> To: Teacher2Teacher Public Discussion Date: 2006032419:46:29 Subject: Back to the original question! The original question for this particular forum asked how to solve a problem where there is a variable on both sides of the equation. For example, 3x + 5 = 2x - 7 Of course, you would only teach this type of problem solving after students had learned how to solve one step equations, and two step equations. The skills must build before you can teach problems with variables on both sides. So allow me to elaborate a little on how I teach two step equations before I tackle that problem up there! Some math teachers probably think that this whole idea is totally crazy but it works with my students! Let's use the problem 5x - 8 = 38 I try to make math fun by telling my students stories. When I teach them to solve two step equations I explain that 5 and x are best friends, only they have a problem x's little brother 8 is always hanging around. So in order for them to have a good time, they need to get rid of the tag along little brother. (We have already learned how to solve one step equations, so the students understand the idea of equation solving being a lot like balancing on a seesaw and that you do the opposite (inverse) to get "rid" of something.) So the students get "rid" of little brother by adding him to both sides. This leaves 5 and x alone so now they can have some fun, only now 5 and x get in a fight. Now 5 decides to go home. So you divide him out of the equation. This leaves x alone! I know that this little story does not include the 38 as a character, but students get the idea. The best things is that once I've taught this concept... they understand that you must get "rid" of the tag along first then break up the friends. If a student is struggling to understand what to do next, I say who do we get rid of first? They usually respond... "the tag along little brother..." or "oh yeah, now the friends split up." So when teaching students to solve problems like 3x + 5 = 2x - 7 I simply add to this concept. I have learned over time that students are much more comfortable if the variables are all on the left, and the numbers are all on the right. So I always start by moving 2x to the left side. Then I move 5 to the right side, and continue solving until the problem is completed. I hope that this is helpful to someone! I try to make math fun, it's very hard to make algebra something that is not boring and tedious!
Math Forum Home || The Math Library || Quick Reference || Math Forum Search