Final answer:
Multi-step equations are equations that require more than one operation to solve and find the unknown variable. They involve multiple steps such as combining like terms, applying the distributive property, and isolating the variable.
Step-by-step explanation:
Multi-step equations are equations that require more than one operation to solve and find the unknown variable. These equations involve multiple steps such as combining like terms, applying the distributive property, and isolating the variable. Let's take an example to understand this better:
Example:
Solve the equation: 3x + 5 = 2x - 3
- Combine like terms: 3x - 2x = -3 - 5, which simplifies to x = -8
- Check the solution by substituting the value of x back into the original equation. If the equation is true, the solution is correct: 3(-8) + 5 = 2(-8) - 3, which simplifies to -19 = -19. The solution is verified.
As you can see, multiple operations were required to solve for the unknown variable x, making it a multi-step equation.