Solving Equations with Variables on Both Sides | Algebra 1 Complete Lesson with Notes, Practice, Homework & Answer Keys

Teach equations with variables on both sides tomorrow with one printable download: notes, practice, a self-checking circuit, homework, and every answer key. Written by Brian McLogan, a former high school math teacher of 14 years and creator of Free Math Videos.

What's included

• Before You Begin: a 4-problem warm-up on the skills students need (combining like terms, distributing, multi-step equations, checking a solution)
• Notes (One-Pager): the general process, a "justify each step" table with the Properties of Equality, the most common mistake, and 4 fully worked examples
• Practice: 6 problems, easy to hard
• Extra Practice Circuit: 10 self-checking problems
• Do You Understand?: error analysis and explain-why questions
• 4-Page Homework: 8 skill problems, a name-the-property question, a real-world word problem, 5 quiz-style multiple choice, 5 review questions, and 4 challenge problems
• Answer Keys: every step shown, with a short note explaining each move

Topics covered

• Collecting variable terms on one side of the equation
• Moving the smaller variable term to keep the coefficient positive
• Distributing on one or both sides before solving
• Fraction and decimal coefficients
• Justifying each step with the Properties of Equality
• Real-world equations (when do two plans cost the same?)
• Challenge problems: big-number shortcuts, messy fractions, a word problem, and a first look at literal equations

Great for

• Algebra 1 teachers
• Homeschool families
• Tutors
• Students learning on their own

Format

Instant digital download. 20-page printable PDF, letter size. No physical item ships.