SOLVING ONE STEP EQUATIONS WITH DECIMALS

In the following exercises, solve the equation.

Problem 1 :

y + 2.9 = 5.7

Solution :

The inverse operation of addition is subtraction. So, subtract 2.9 from both sides.

y + 2.9 – 2.9 = 5.7 – 2.9

Simplify,

y = 2.8

Problem 2 :

m + 4.6 = 6.5

Solution :

The inverse operation of addition is subtraction. So, subtract 4.6 from both sides.

m + 4.6 – 4.6 = 6.5 – 4.6

By subtracting, we get

m = 1.9

Problem 3 :

h + 4.37 = 3.5

Solution :

The inverse operation of addition is subtraction. So, subtract 4.37 from both sides.

h + 4.37 – 4.37 = 3.5 – 4.37

By subtracting, we get

h = - 0.87

Problem 4 :

a + 6.2 = - 1.7

Solution :

The inverse operation of addition is subtraction. So, subtract 6.2 from both sides.

a + 6.2 – 6.2 = - 1.7 – 6.2

By adding, we get

a = - 7.9

Problem 5 :

-2.7 u = -9.72

Solution :

The inverse operation of multiplication is division. So, divide both sides by -2.7.

-2.7 u / -2.7 = -9.72 / -2.7

By dividing, we get

u = 3.6

Problem 6 :

a / 0.4 = - 20

Solution :

To isolate the variable a (to get a coefficient of 1), multiply both sides by 0.4.

(a / 0.4) (0.4) = (-20) (0.4)

By multiplying, we get

a = - 8

Problem 7 :

x / 0.7 = - 0.4

Solution :

To isolate the variable x (to get a coefficient of 1), multiply both sides by 0.7.

(x / 0.7) (0.7) = (- 0.4) (0.7)

By multiplying, we get

x = - 0.28

Problem 8 :

y / 0.8 = - 0.7

Solution :

To isolate the variable y (to get a coefficient of 1), multiply both sides by 0.8.

(y / 0.8) (0.8) = (- 0.7) (0.8)

By multiplying, we get

y = - 0.56

Problem 9 :

q - 0.47 = - 1.53

Solution :

The inverse operation of subtraction is addition. So, add 0.47 from both sides.

q – 0.47 + 0.47 = - 1.53 + 0.47

By subtracting, we get

q = - 1.06

Problem 10 :

0.5 x = 3.5

Solution :

The inverse operation of multiplication is division. So, divide both sides by -0.5.

0.5 x / 0.5 = 3.5 / 0.5

By dividing, we get

x = 7

Problem 11 :

-1.7 c = 8.5

Solution :

The inverse operation of multiplication is division. So, divide both sides by -1.7.

-1.7 c / -1.7 = 8.5 / -1.7

By dividing, we get

c = - 5

Problem 12 :

-2.9 x = 5.8

Solution :

The inverse operation of multiplication is division. So, divide both sides by -2.9.

-2.9 x / -2.9 = 5.8 / -2.9

By dividing, we get

x = - 2