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.
Alaska content standards learning standard: 8.EE.7 · 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 Alaska
In the Alaska content standards, 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.
Source: Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
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: 4x + 5 = −7
answer box
-3
Hint: Undo the addition first: 4x = -7 − 5 = -12. Then divide by 4: x = -3.
Question 2
Solve for x: x ÷ 5 + 7 = 11
answer box
20
Hint: Subtract 7: x ÷ 5 = 4. Multiply both sides by 5: x = 20.
Question 3
Solve for n: 54 = 6n + 12
answer box
7
Hint: Subtract 12 from both sides: 42 = 6n. Divide by 6: n = 7.
Question 4
Evaluate 2n + 5 when n = 3.
answer box
11
Hint: Replace n with 3: 2 × 3 + 5 = 6 + 5 = 11.
Question 5
Which expression means “3 more than 5 times a number n”?
- 5(n + 3)
- 8n
- 5n + 3
- 5n − 3
- 3n + 5
5n + 3
Hint: “5 times a number” is 5n. “3 more than” that means add 3: 5n + 3.
Question 6
I think of a number, multiply it by 6 and add 9. The result is 45. Which equation matches?
- 6 + 9n = 45
- 6(n + 9) = 45
- 6n − 9 = 45
- n + 54 = 45
- 6n + 9 = 45
6n + 9 = 45
Hint: "Multiply by 6" gives 6n, then "add 9" gives 6n + 9, and that equals 45.