To solve a simple linear equation simply make the unknown term, usually represented by a letter or symbol, into the subject of the equation. This has to be done in steps where a term is moved to the opposite side to the side having the unknown.  Once this is done the answer can be evaluated using simple arithmetic.

 

An example has been done showing the steps as follows:

 

2x + 5 = 11

 

Firstly take the 5 to the right hand side by subtracting 5 from both sides.

 

2x + 5 - 5 = 11 -  5

 

Once simplified this gives:

 

2x = 6

 

One final step is to take the 2 to the right hand side leaving x as the subject before evaluating the answer.  If we are multiplying by 2 then to move 2 to the right hand side we simply do the opposite, we divide both sides by 2 as follows:

 

2x/2 = 6/2

 

Once simplified this gives:

 

x = 6/2

 

so 

 

x = 3 is the answer.

 

Showing the steps in your working

 

Once you get good at re-arranging you do not need to show the operations carried out to both sides but just show the movement of symbols or terms from one side of the equation to the other as steps in your working.

 

For the above equation it would be as follows:

 

2x + 5 = 11 

2x = 11 - 5       (step 1)

x = 6/2            (step 2)

x = 3                (step 3)