I am going to take the Regents Algebra 1(Common Core)and I'd like to know whether a certain procedure of mine could lower my grade.
When solving linear equations I do this:
x+2=20
I just pass the 2 negative to the other side without subtracting it from the left .
Can this affect my grade,since almost all my friends do this?
2 answers
What answer do you get for x?
The only thing you have to remember is that since the two sides of an equation are equal (hence the name), if you do the same thing to both sides, they remain equal. Your goal is to isolate the variable on one side, so the other side is just its value.
Now, when you say you just pass the -2 to the other side without subtracting it from the left, I think that is not so. How do you get a -2 to "move over"?
What you are really doing is subtracting 2 from both sides, maybe just not writing it down.
If
x+2 = 20
then
x+2-2 = 20-2
x = 18
As you gain proficiency, you do tend to eliminate all the extra writing, so it is perfectly ok to say
x+2 = 20
x = 20-2 = 18
The only way I can see that it would affect your grade is when the teacher has said that you must show all steps, just to make sure that you know what you're doing.
If there's ever any confusion, though, it never hurts to write explicitly what is is you are doing.
One other tip: when doing the solution on paper, don't be afraid to use an extra line for each step. Don't get into the habit of writing a step, then crossing out stuff or modifying the text several ways, so that when you try to see just what you did, it's all obscured by multiple steps of cross-outs and divisions, etc.
Now, when you say you just pass the -2 to the other side without subtracting it from the left, I think that is not so. How do you get a -2 to "move over"?
What you are really doing is subtracting 2 from both sides, maybe just not writing it down.
If
x+2 = 20
then
x+2-2 = 20-2
x = 18
As you gain proficiency, you do tend to eliminate all the extra writing, so it is perfectly ok to say
x+2 = 20
x = 20-2 = 18
The only way I can see that it would affect your grade is when the teacher has said that you must show all steps, just to make sure that you know what you're doing.
If there's ever any confusion, though, it never hurts to write explicitly what is is you are doing.
One other tip: when doing the solution on paper, don't be afraid to use an extra line for each step. Don't get into the habit of writing a step, then crossing out stuff or modifying the text several ways, so that when you try to see just what you did, it's all obscured by multiple steps of cross-outs and divisions, etc.
1 answer