Inverse Operations

Inverse means opposite

When we solve equations using inverse operations we will be using the opposite operation for the symbol we see

Addition and Subtraction are opposites

Multiplication and Division are opposites

We use inverse operations to solve for variables

Variables are the letters that you see in math equations

Ex: x+2=7

We use inverse operations to undo problems in order to find what x is equal to.

b-4=12

Our first step is to get b on a side completely by itself.

That means we have to find a way to get rid of the 4.

We have to do the opposite of subtracting 4.

We added 4 to both sides in b-4=12 because when working with inverse operations the rule is: WHATEVER YOU DO TO ONE SIDE OF THE EQUAL SIGN YOU HAVE TO DO TO THE OTHER.

Since we added 4 on the left side of the equal sign, we also needed to add 4 to 12 on the right side.

You wind up with b=16 because 12+4=16.

The picture on this slide shows another example of whatever you do to one side, you must do to the other.