Resources/Equations practice: one- and two-step equations
Grades 7-8Printable worksheet + answer keyCC0 license

Equations practice: one- and two-step equations

A printable lesson focused on solving equations with clear steps.

Students learn how to isolate the variable, use inverse operations, and check their answers.

Print-ready worksheet with answer key and quick teaching tips.

Grades 7-80 problems10 minAnswer key included

Ready-to-teach

Clear steps, examples, and practice in one printable page.

Misconception-proof

Highlights common mistakes and how to fix them quickly.

Open license

CC0: free to copy, adapt, and share without attribution.

Quick overview

This free equations worksheet for grades 7-8 reinforces one- and two-step equation solving.

Lesson plan snapshot

15-20 min
  • Warm-up (3 min): solve a quick one-step equation on the board.
  • Model (5 min): solve the worked example together.
  • Guided practice (5 min): complete problems 1-3 as a group.
  • Independent practice (7 min): finish the remaining problems.

Materials: whiteboard, pencil

Learning targets

  • Solve one-step equations with inverse operations.
  • Solve two-step equations by undoing operations in order.
  • Check solutions by substitution.

Step-by-step approach

  1. 1Identify the operations applied to the variable.
  2. 2Undo addition or subtraction first.
  3. 3Undo multiplication or division next.
  4. 4Check by substituting the solution into the original equation.

Common mistakes

Mistake

Doing operations on only one side of the equation.

Try instead

Whatever you do to one side, do to the other.

Mistake

Changing the sign incorrectly when moving terms.

Try instead

Use inverse operations instead of moving terms mentally.

Mistake

Skipping the check step.

Try instead

Substitute your answer to confirm both sides match.

Worked example

Guided
Solve: 3x4=113x - 4 = 11
  1. Add 4 to both sides: 3x = 15.
  2. Divide both sides by 3: x = 5.
  3. Check: 3(5) - 4 = 11.
Answer: 5

Related resources

Practice problems

10 problems • 15 min

Printable worksheet
  1. 1
    Solve for xx: 2x+5=252x + 5 = 25
  2. 2
    Solve for xx: 2x2=62x - 2 = 6
  3. 3
    A number plus 12 equals 19. What is the number?
  4. 4
    Solve for xx: 2x=202x = 20
  5. 5
    Solve for xx: 2x+4=162x + 4 = 16
  6. 6
    Solve for xx: x+11=15x + 11 = 15
  7. 7
    A number plus 5 equals 15. What is the number?
  8. 8
    Solve for xx: x+4=13x + 4 = 13
  9. 9
    Solve for xx: 3x5=193x - 5 = 19
  10. 10
    Solve for xx: 2x=122x = 12

Answer key

10 answers
  1. 11) 10
  2. 22) 4
  3. 33) 7
  4. 44) 10
  5. 55) 6
  6. 66) 4
  7. 77) 10
  8. 88) 9
  9. 99) 8
  10. 1010) 6

Teacher tips

  • TUse balance scales or two-column visuals to show equality.
  • TAsk students to name the inverse operation before solving.
  • THave students check at least one problem out loud.

Parent tips

  • PRemind your child to undo operations one at a time.
  • PEncourage them to check answers by substitution.
  • PCelebrate the process, not just the final number.

Open license

You are free to copy, adapt, and share these materials. No attribution required. Released under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 (public domain).