How do you do linear equations?

To do linear equations, basically, just imagine it with an equals sign. It is pretty much the same as normal algebra, so it's not too confusing.

An example of a linear equation is 3x - 7 = 11

with this, your objective is to get 'x' on its own and to do this, do inverse operations (the opposite to what is actually done)

For instance, to get '3x' on its own, you must add 7.

So do this for both sides to give you

3x = 18

Yeah?

Now you must get 'x' on its own. It currently has 3 x's at the moment, so you must divide it by 3 to give you one 'x'. A rule with these - what you do to one side you must do to the other.

So this means that if you divide 3x by 3, you must divide 18 by 3.

This leaves you with x = 6.