Solving 1-step equations

Beta: Skills in Chapters 10, pg 178-185
Beta: Chapter 10 – pgs 176 to 197
Beta: Contextual questions: Ex 10.06, Ex 10.08, Ex 10.12, and Ex 10.14

click each term to open in Te Aka

Learning objective overview

Master Teaching Guide coverage for this objective.

Current NZC (2007)

New NZC (2026)

Solve a one-step addition or subtraction equation such as $x+3=7$ or $x-9=1$, by applying the opposite operation to both sides.
Solve a one-step multiplication or division equation such as $5x=45$ or $\tfrac{x}{4}=6$, by applying the opposite operation to both sides.
Solve a one-step equation where the unknown is represented by a letter other than $x$, such as $4y=32$ or $\tfrac{m}{6}=7$.
Solve a one-step equation that has a negative solution, such as $x+5=2$ giving $x=-3$, or that has a negative coefficient, such as $-2x=8$ giving $x=-4$.
Verify a solution to an equation by substituting it back in, and use substitution to check whether a given value is correct.
Form a one-step equation from a short word description, such as "a number plus 5 equals 12", and solve it using the opposite operation.
As an extension, apply the same opposite-operation idea to a two-step equation such as $2x+3=7$, undoing the operations in reverse order.