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
- 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
- 1Identify the operations applied to the variable.
- 2Undo addition or subtraction first.
- 3Undo multiplication or division next.
- 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
- Add 4 to both sides: 3x = 15.
- Divide both sides by 3: x = 5.
- Check: 3(5) - 4 = 11.
Related resources
Practice problems
10 problems • 15 min
- 1Solve for :
- 2Solve for :
- 3A number plus 12 equals 19. What is the number?
- 4Solve for :
- 5Solve for :
- 6Solve for :
- 7A number plus 5 equals 15. What is the number?
- 8Solve for :
- 9Solve for :
- 10Solve for :
Answer key
10 answers- 11) 10
- 22) 4
- 33) 7
- 44) 10
- 55) 6
- 66) 4
- 77) 10
- 88) 9
- 99) 8
- 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).