Balancing Equations

The golden rule of equations: whatever you do to one side, do to the other. This keeps the equation balanced.

If $x + 5 = 12$, you can subtract $5$ from both sides: $x + 5 - 5 = 12 - 5$, which gives $x = 7$.

You can add, subtract, multiply, or divide both sides by the same value (except dividing by zero). The equation stays true as long as you treat both sides equally.