Grade 8 Lesson 1.

1: Solving Simple Equations

Goal: Today's lesson is solving one-step equations.
Lesson Objective: In the Activity, students used the sum of the angle measures of a triangle to
explore simple equation solving. In the Lesson, students will use Properties of Equality to solve
one-step equations.
Materials for Motivate in Teaching Edition: none
Materials for Lesson Notes in Teaching Edition: none
Materials for Lesson in Pupil Edition: none
Pacing: 45 minutes

CC State
Standards

CC Mathematical
Practice Focus

8.EE.7a, 8.EE.7b

MP2, MP7

1. INTRODUCTION (5 minutes)

Other Resources

Warm Up
Have students answer Start Thinking! and/or Warm Up questions. Review the answers as a class.
Review previously assigned homework, if necessary.

Dynamic Classroom
Start Thinking! and
Warm Up
Homework Check
Answer Presentation

Motivate from Lauries Notes in Teaching Edition

Play REVERSO as described in the Teaching Edition in order to get students thinking about inverse operations.

2. Key Ideas (5 minutes)

Addition and Subtraction Properties of Equality

Other Resources
Dynamic Classroom
Lauries Lesson Notes

These Key Ideas introduce students to the Addition and Subtraction Properties of Equality.

Write the Key Ideas. Use an alternate color to show adding (subtracting) c to (from) each side of the equation.

Remind students that two equations that have the same solution are equivalent equations.

Remind students of the big idea: whatever you do to one side of the equation, you must do to the other side of the
equation.

Copyright Big Ideas Learning, LLC

All rights reserved.

296192445
1 of 4

Big Ideas Math Blue

Lesson Plan

3. EXAMPLE 1 (5 minutes)

Other Resources

Solving Equations Using Addition or Subtraction

This example illustrates how to solve equations using the Addition and Subtraction Properties of Equality.

Work through parts (a) (c).

For part (c), ask students about the approximate value of . Remind students that 2 and 3 are (irrational)
numbers, so you can treat these numbers as you would integers.

Have students work in pairs to answer On Your Own Questions 1 6. Circulate as students work on these six
questions. Remind them that it is the practice of representing their work that is important in these questions.

Review the answer together, with students presenting their work to the class. Pay special attention to Questions 1,
3, and 6, in which students can subtract two negative numbers to find the solution.

Dynamic Classroom
Lauries Lesson Notes
PowerPoint Example
Extra Example
Lesson Tutorials
Answer Presentation

Focus on Mathematical Practice 7

Note that in On Your Own Question 3, the variable is on the right side of the equation. Some students may be unclear about
how to find the solution, because they often view the equal sign as a right-pointing arrow. By subtracting 3 from both sides
of the equation, you isolate the variable on the right side. Check to make sure students are finding the solution correctly.

4. Key Ideas (5 minutes)

Multiplication and Division Properties of Equality

Other Resources
Dynamic Classroom
Lauries Lesson Notes

These Key Ideas introduce students to the Multiplication and Division Properties of Equality.

Write the Key Ideas.

Use the examples in the Teaching Edition to review different ways in which multiplication and division are
represented.

Point out that when there are variables in equations, you do not want to use to represent multiplication because
it can be mistaken for a variable.

Copyright Big Ideas Learning, LLC

All rights reserved.

296192445
2 of 4

Big Ideas Math Blue

Lesson Plan

5. EXAMPLE 2 (5 minutes)

Other Resources

Solving Equations Using Multiplication or Division

This example demonstrates how to solve equations using the Multiplication and Division Properties of Equality, such as.

Remind students that the goal is to solve for the variable so that it has a coefficient of 1.

While working through part (a), discuss the inverse operation of multiplying by 3/4. Remind students that the
Multiplicative Inverse Property states that the product of a number and its reciprocal is 1.

Work through part (b) as shown so that students have practice working with in an algebraic equation.

Have students work in pairs to answer On Your Own Questions 7 9. Circulate as students work on these three
questions. Stress representation with students.

Review the answer together, with students presenting their work to the class.

Dynamic Classroom
Lauries Lesson Notes
PowerPoint Example
Extra Example
Lesson Tutorials

Answer Presentation

6. EXAMPLE 3 (10 minutes)

Other Resources

Identifying the Solution of an Equation

This example illustrates how to answer a multiple choice question that asks which value of a given variable makes a given
equation true.

Before doing this example, review order of operations with students.

Work through the example as shown. Point out that it would be possible to use Guess, Check and Revise, but that
it is more efficient to use order of operations and then solve the equation.

Have students work in pairs to complete On Your Own Questions 10 and 11. Remind students to follow the order of
operations. Discuss the absolute value in Question 11.

Review the answers together, with students presenting their work to the class.

Copyright Big Ideas Learning, LLC

All rights reserved.

296192445
3 of 4

Dynamic Classroom
Lauries Lesson Notes
PowerPoint Example
Extra Example
Lesson Tutorials

Answer Presentation

Big Ideas Math Blue

Lesson Plan

7. EXAMPLE 4 (5 minutes)

Other Resources

Real-Life Application
This example illustrates how to read a word problem and translate it into an equation that can be solved.

Discuss the color-coding of the words and symbols.

Have students work independently to answer On Your Own Question 12. Then have neighbors check each others
work.

Review the answer together, with students presenting their work to the class.

Dynamic Classroom
Lauries Lesson Notes
PowerPoint Example
Extra Example
Lesson Tutorials

Answer Presentation

Focus on Mathematical Practice 2

The term (1/30)n could also have been written as n/30. Make sure students understand why: It is how a fraction and
number are multiplied.

8. ASSESS (5 minutes)

Other Resources

Closure (as time allows)

Ask students to describe in words how to solve a one-step equation and then write and solve a one-step equation. This will

summarize solving simple equations.

Homework Assignment

1 3, 23 43 odd

Copyright Big Ideas Learning, LLC

All rights reserved.

296192445
4 of 4

Taking Math Deeper

Mini-Assessment
Extra Practice (A and B)
ExamView
Assessment Suite
Answer Presentation

Big Ideas Math Blue

Lesson Plan