<img src="https://d5nxst8fruw4z.cloudfront.net/atrk.gif?account=iA1Pi1a8Dy00ym" style="display:none" height="1" width="1" alt="" />

# Two-Step Equations with Subtraction and Division

## Two step equations x/a - b = c

Estimated5 minsto complete
%
Progress
Practice Two-Step Equations with Subtraction and Division

MEMORY METER
This indicates how strong in your memory this concept is
Progress
Estimated5 minsto complete
%
Solve Equations Involving Inverse Properties of Subtraction and Division

Brandon and Felicia sold rolls of wrapping paper for a school fundraiser. Brandon sold 3 less than half the number of rolls that Felicia sold. Brandon sold a total of 9 rolls of wrapping paper.

Write an algebraic equation to represent \begin{align*}w\end{align*}, Remember that \begin{align*}w\end{align*} is the number of rolls of wrap the number of rolls of wrapping paper that Felicia sold. Then, find the number of rolls of wrapping paper that Felicia sold.

In this concept, you will solve equations involving inverse properties of subtraction and division.

### Inverse Properties of Subtracting and Dividing

To solve a two-step equation, you will need to use more than one inverse operation. You begin solving two-step equations by isolating the variable.

For example, solve for \begin{align*}z\end{align*}.

\begin{align*}\frac{z}{6} - 7 = 3\end{align*}

Your first step should be to use inverse operations to get the term that includes a variable, \begin{align*}\frac{z}{6}\end{align*}, by itself on one side of the equal sign. In the equation, 7 is subtracted from \begin{align*}\frac{z}{6}\end{align*}. So, you can use the inverse of subtraction—addition. Therefore, add 7 to both sides of the equation.

\begin{align*}\begin{array}{rcl} \frac{z}{6} -7 & = & 3\\ \frac{z}{6} -7 + 7 & = & 3+7\\ \frac{z}{6} & = & 10 \end{array}\end{align*}

Next, you can use inverse operations to isolate \begin{align*}z\end{align*}. Since \begin{align*}z\end{align*} is divided by 6, you can use the inverse of division – multiplication.

\begin{align*}\begin{array}{rcl} \frac{z}{6} & = & 10\\ \frac{z}{6} \times 6 & = & 10 \times 6\\ z & = & 60 \end{array}\end{align*}

Let’s review your steps to solving this two-step equation.

### Examples

#### Example 1

Earlier, you were given a problem about Brandon and Felicia’s fundraising.

Brandon sold 3 less than half of Felicia’s total, which was 9 rolls of wrap.

First, use the key words from the question to help you translate the problem into an equation. Remember that \begin{align*}w\end{align*} is the number of rolls of wrap.

\begin{align*}\begin{array}{rcl} && \text{Brand on sold 3 less than half the number that Felicia sold.}\\ && \qquad \qquad \qquad \quad \downarrow \qquad \qquad \downarrow\\ && \qquad \qquad \qquad \ -3 \qquad \quad \ \ \frac{w}{2} \end{array}\end{align*}

So the equation is \begin{align*}\frac{w}{2}-3=9\end{align*}.

Next, use the inverse of subtraction—addition to isolate the variable.

\begin{align*}\begin{array}{rcl} \frac{w}{2} -3 & = & 9\\ \frac{w}{2} -3 + 3 & = & 9+3\\ \frac{w}{2} & = & 12 \end{array}\end{align*}

Then, you can use inverse operations to isolate \begin{align*}w\end{align*}. Since \begin{align*}w\end{align*} is divided by 2, you can use the inverse of division – multiplication.

\begin{align*}\begin{array}{rcl} \frac{w}{2} & = & 12\\ \frac{w}{2} \times 2 & = & 12 \times 2\\ w & = & 24 \end{array}\end{align*}

Felicia sold 24 rolls of wrapping paper.

#### Example 2

\begin{align*}\frac{x}{6}-9=8\end{align*}

First, use the inverse of subtraction—addition to isolate the variable.

\begin{align*}\begin{array}{rcl} \frac{x}{6} -9 & = & 8\\ \frac{x}{6} -9 + 9 & = & 8+9\\ \frac{x}{6} & = & 17 \end{array}\end{align*}

Next, you can use inverse operations to isolate \begin{align*}x\end{align*}. Since \begin{align*}x\end{align*} is divided by 6, you can use the inverse of division – multiplication.

\begin{align*}\begin{array}{rcl} \frac{x}{6} & = & 17\\ \frac{x}{6} \times 6 & = & 17 \times 6\\ x & = & 102 \end{array}\end{align*}

#### Example 3

\begin{align*}\frac{x}{3}-8=9\end{align*}

First, use the inverse of subtraction—addition to isolate the variable.

\begin{align*}\begin{array}{rcl} \frac{x}{3} -8 & = & 9\\ \frac{x}{3} -8 + 8 & = & 9+8\\ \frac{x}{3} & = & 17 \end{array}\end{align*}

Next, you can use inverse operations to isolate \begin{align*}x\end{align*}. Since \begin{align*}x\end{align*} is divided by 3, you can use the inverse of division – multiplication.

\begin{align*}\begin{array}{rcl} \frac{x}{3} & = & 17\\ \frac{x}{3} \times 3 & = & 17 \times 3\\ x & = & 51 \end{array}\end{align*}

#### Example 4

\begin{align*}\frac{y}{7}-2=13\end{align*}

First, use the inverse of subtraction—addition to isolate the variable.

\begin{align*}\begin{array}{rcl} \frac{y}{7} -2 & = & 13\\ \frac{y}{7} -2 + 2 & = & 13+2\\ \frac{y}{7} & = & 15 \end{array}\end{align*}

Next, you can use inverse operations to isolate \begin{align*}y\end{align*}. Since \begin{align*}y\end{align*} is divided by 73, you can use the inverse of division – multiplication.

\begin{align*}\begin{array}{rcl} \frac{y}{7} & = & 15\\ \frac{y}{7} \times 7 & = & 15 \times 7\\ y & = & 105 \end{array}\end{align*}

#### Example 5

\begin{align*}\frac{a}{7}-2=12\end{align*}

First, use the inverse of subtraction—addition to isolate the variable.

\begin{align*}\begin{array}{rcl} \frac{a}{7} -2 & = & 12\\ \frac{a}{7} -2 + 2 & = & 12+2\\ \frac{a}{7} & = & 14 \end{array}\end{align*}

Next, you can use inverse operations to isolate \begin{align*}a\end{align*}. Since \begin{align*}a\end{align*} is divided by 7, you can use the inverse of division – multiplication.

\begin{align*}\begin{array}{rcl} \frac{a}{7} & = & 14\\ \frac{a}{7} \times 7 & = & 14 \times 7\\ a & = & 98 \end{array}\end{align*}

### Review

Solve each two-step equation that has division and subtraction in it.

1. \begin{align*}\frac{x}{5} - 4 = 8\end{align*}
2. \begin{align*}\frac{y}{6} - 3 = 8\end{align*}
3. \begin{align*}\frac{x}{7} - 7 = 10\end{align*}
4. \begin{align*}\frac{x}{8} - 4 = 12\end{align*}
5. \begin{align*}\frac{y}{7} - 5 = 11\end{align*}
6. \begin{align*}\frac{x}{4} - 10 = 12\end{align*}
7. \begin{align*}\frac{y}{4} - 8 = 2\end{align*}
8. \begin{align*}\frac{x}{3} - 12 = 9\end{align*}
9. \begin{align*}\frac{a}{5} - 3 = 11\end{align*}
10. \begin{align*}\frac{b}{4} - 1 = 15\end{align*}
11. \begin{align*}\frac{x}{2} - 8 = 4\end{align*}
12. \begin{align*}\frac{a}{7} - 4 = 9\end{align*}
13. \begin{align*}\frac{b}{4} - 7 = 3\end{align*}
14. \begin{align*}\frac{x}{8} - 1 = 12\end{align*}
15. \begin{align*}\frac{y}{6} - 8 = 5\end{align*}
16. \begin{align*}\frac{x}{2} - 15 = 12\end{align*}

### Notes/Highlights Having trouble? Report an issue.

Color Highlighted Text Notes

### Vocabulary Language: English

Algebraic Equation

An algebraic equation contains numbers, variables, operations, and an equals sign.

Equation

An equation is a mathematical sentence that describes two equal quantities. Equations contain equals signs.

inverse

Inverse functions are functions that 'undo' each other. Formally: $f(x)$ and $g(x)$ are inverse functions if $f(g(x)) = g(f(x)) = x$.

One-Step Equation

A one-step equation is an algebraic equation with one operation in it that requires one step to solve.

Two-Step Equation

A two-step equation is an algebraic equation with two operations in it that requires two steps to solve.

Variable

A variable is a symbol used to represent an unknown or changing quantity. The most common variables are a, b, x, y, m, and n.