Sizu Riatto
Algebra · Chapter 7

Equation Solver That Shows Every Step

Clear the fractions, tidy each side, gather the letters, undo the plain number on both sides, divide, and check. Six steps solve almost any one-letter equation.

Home › Calculators › Equation Solver That Shows Every Step

Opens on Chapter 7’s example: 5x − 7 = 2x + 14.

Enter your numbers, then press Work it out.

How it works

The six steps: (1) if there are fractions or decimals, multiply every term on both sides by the lowest number that clears them; (2) expand any brackets and collect like terms on each side; (3) if the letter is on both sides, take the smaller letter term from both; (4) move the number away from the letter side; (5) divide by the number in front of the letter; (6) check by putting the answer into the original equation, both sides. If the letters cancel and what’s left is false (like 40 = 55), no number works; if it’s true (6 = 6), every number does. The graph draws each side as a line: the answer is where they cross.

From the book, Chapter 7. 18h + 25 = 565 takes away 25 to give 18h = 540, so h = 30. 2(n − 3) = 14 gives 10; 5x − 7 = 2x + 14 gives 7 (both sides 28); the two phone plans cost the same at 300 miles ($50 each); the papyrus answer is 16 5/8; the truck rentals never meet, since one is always $15 dearer. Every chapter and its calculator →

Numbers can be typed as 1,450, $38, 0.40, 12%, 1/6 or 2 3/8. The algebra is done with exact fractions, so 1/3 stays 1/3; decimals are rounded half up, the way the book rounds. Everything stays in your browser: no sign-up, nothing stored or sent.