8th grade · Math · Unit 2 of 17
Patterns & Two-Step Equations
Expressions, patterns and solving for x
What your child practices
Writing and evaluating expressions like 3n + 2, solving two-step equations, and finding the rule for a growing pattern or a cost made of whole items such as tickets.
Alabama Course of Study content standard: 8.11 · solving linear equations in one variable
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- Do the same thing to both sides to keep the equation balanced.
- Undo adding and subtracting first.
- Then undo multiplying and dividing.
Example: 3x − 5 = 16 Add 5 to both sides: 3x = 21. Divide both sides by 3: x = 7. Answer: x = 7
Patterns & Two-Step Equations in Alabama
In the Alabama Course of Study, this is unit 2 of 17 in 8th grade Math, after Squares, Cubes & Roots and before Pythagorean Theorem.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Solve for x: 9x + 2 = 11
answer box
1
Hint: Undo the addition first: 9x = 11 − 2 = 9. Then divide by 9: x = 1.
Question 2
Solve for x: x ÷ 2 + 4 = 7
answer box
6
Hint: Subtract 4: x ÷ 2 = 3. Multiply both sides by 2: x = 6.
Question 3
Solve for n: 75 = 5n + 25
answer box
10
Hint: Subtract 25 from both sides: 50 = 5n. Divide by 5: n = 10.
Question 4
Evaluate 5n + 8 when n = 3.
answer box
23
Hint: Replace n with 3: 5 × 3 + 8 = 15 + 8 = 23.
Question 5
Which expression means “6 more than 5 times a number n”?
- 6n + 5
- 11n
- 5n + 6
- 5n − 6
- 5(n + 6)
5n + 6
Hint: “5 times a number” is 5n. “6 more than” that means add 6: 5n + 6.
Question 6
I think of a number, multiply it by 3 and add 11. The result is 17. Which equation matches?
- n + 33 = 17
- 3 + 11n = 17
- 3n + 11 = 17
- 3(n + 11) = 17
- 3n − 11 = 17
3n + 11 = 17
Hint: "Multiply by 3" gives 3n, then "add 11" gives 3n + 11, and that equals 17.