Equations - Guess and Check

An equation is a number sentence with an equals sign, and its solution is the value that makes both sides match. This NSW Year 7 maths subtopic (NESA outcome MA4‑EQU‑C‑01) explains how an equation differs from an expression and solves equations by trial.

You will use guess and check: try a value, work out the left-hand side, compare it with the right-hand side and adjust. For \(3x + 5 = 26\), \(x = 5\) is too small and \(x = 8\) too big, so try \(x = 7\). You will also test whether a given number is a solution, the same reasoning you use when sharing a budget evenly. This subtopic is part of Year 7 Algebra and Equations.