Math 1 · Lesson 4 · part 1 of 4
The Words We Use
The vocabulary for this lesson, in one place.
Words we use
| Word | Plain English | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Translate (Step 1) | Rewrite subtraction and division as addition and multiplication, and show the invisible 1s. | Do it first, before any undoing. |
| Equation | A balance that says two sides are equal. | Keep both sides equal at every step. |
| Solve | Find the value of the letter that makes it true. | Get the letter by itself. |
| Coefficient | The number on the variable. It means the variable is multiplied by that number: 3x is 3 times x. | Write it down, even when it is 1. A lonely x is 1x. Anything you leave to do in your head is a top cause of mistakes. |
| Inverse operation (undo partner) | The move that undoes another. Adding undoes adding a negative; multiplying undoes multiplying. | Undo by adding the opposite (makes 0) or multiplying by the reciprocal (makes 1). |
| Do the same to both sides | Keep the balance level. | Whatever you add or multiply on one side, do to the other. |