Simple equations
Find the mystery number with a balance scale.
Learn with Kutty
Go one screen at a time. Press Next when you are ready. Tap 🔊 Read to me to listen.
An equation is a balance. Do the same thing to both sides.
Look: The two sides weigh the same: 3x + 5 = 20.
✏️ Your turn!
Type your answer and press Check. Kutty will tell you if it is right.
1x + 9 = 14
24x = 36
32x − 7 = 11
! Careful!
✗Changing only one side.
✓Do it to both sides.
✗Dividing by 3 before taking away 5.
✓Undo in reverse order: last thing first.
See the whole lesson on one page
An equation is a balance. Do the same thing to both sides.
To find x, undo what was done to it, step by step. Undo + with −. Undo × with ÷. Whatever you do, do it to both sides.
Think of it like thisOn a see-saw scale, if you take 5 kg off one side, take 5 kg off the other side too, and it stays level.
- x
- The number we do not know yet.
Solved together
Ravi thinks of a number. He multiplies it by 3 and adds 5. He gets 20. What was his number?
Call the number x.
3x + 5 = 20Undo "+5": take 5 from both sides.
3x = 15Undo "×3": divide both sides by 3.
x = 5Check: 3 × 5 + 5 = 20. ✓
Answerx = 5.
Now practise it
Kanakku makes new questions on simple equations every time. It shows the working and gives a hint when you are stuck.