Begin your lesson plan with a simple one-step linear equation. An example of such an equation includes the following:
x - 4 = 20
Cover the topics of isolation and operations at the outset. You solve for the unknown variable, x in the example, by isolating the variable on one side of the equation. Do this by performing the opposite operation on the side where x is located. Continuing with the example:
x - 4 = 20
The operation on the left side of the equation is "- 4". Said another way, 4 is subtracted from x. The opposite operation of subtraction is addition. Thus, add 4 to both sides of the equation to isolate x. You get the following result:
x = 24
Move onto multiple-step equations after students master the one-step linear equation and understand the concepts of isolation and operation. Multiple-step linear equations include the following:
3x + 2 = 11
Perform the opposite operation of "+ 2" on both sides of the equation to isolate 3x. You get the following:
3x = 9
Next, divide both sides by 3 to isolate x to get an answer of x = 3.
Teach the concept of distribution. Distribution is a multiplication concept whereby a series of numbers are multiplied by another. Take the following example:
3(x + 5) - 2 = 19
The number 3 multiples both x and the number 5. Thus, a simplified version of the above equation looks as follows:
3x + 15 - 2 = 19
Simplify further to get:
3x + 13 = 19.
Using the concepts of isolation and operation, you get a final answer of x = 2.