what is a true equation and a false equation?

I think it is what makes the equation true like for example - 6+B= 7 true equation would be 1 false because six plus one is seven, false equation would be 2 because six plus two would not equal seven it would equal eight.

What do we do when its a decimal??

The same thing you do with whole numbers

is it a equation if its a fraction

It can be, if it shows something like 1/2=2/4 (with an equal sign), but it is only an expression if it has no equal sign. For example, 3/8

what does the 3rd question in problem 3 mean

It means 10=2w =? Well, using common knowledge we know that 2 x ? = 10 If a variable is next to a number, has a floating period or has parenthesis we must multiply it. HOPE IT HELPS!!

So it can still be an equation even if it has flopped Around?

Yes; `2x + 3 = 4` = `4 = 3 + 2x`, and I think you mean "flipped." :)

how come we mostly use x? shouldn't it be something that makes sense like if its 5x6 shouldn't it be something like 5xS because the first letter of 6 is s?? not sure but just a thought.

I am pretty sure it is because X is a relatively uncommon letter in the alphabet, for example if we used "a" more regularly it could get confusing.

What is a true equation and a false??

True is when the equation is correct. For example, if I were to write the equation 9+9 = 10+8, it would be true because both sides equal 18. However, if I were to write the equation 9+9 = 9+8, it would be false because one side equals 18 and one side equals 17.

What is the difference between a true equation and a false equation?

a true equation would have both sides the same. for a false equation both sides are not the same.there you go!

Main content

MAP Recommended Practice

Course: MAP Recommended Practice > Unit 17

Lesson 21: Algebraic equations basics

Intro to equations

Google Classroom

Learn what an equation is and what it means to find the solution of an equation.

What is an equation?

An equation is a statement that two expressions are equal. For example, the expression

5 + 3

is equal to the expression

6 + 2

(because they both equal

8

), so we can write the following equation:

5 + 3 = 6 + 2

All equations have an equal sign (

=

). The

=

sign is not an operator like addition (

+

) or subtraction (

-

) symbols. The equal sign doesn't tell us what to do. It only tells us that two expressions are equal. For example, in:

6 - 2 = 3 + 1

The

-

sign tells us what to do with

6

and

2

: subtract

2

from

6

. However, the

=

sign does not tell us what to do with

6 - 2

and

3 + 1

. It only tells us that they are equal.

Let's make sure we know the difference between an expression and an equation.

Which of these is an equation?

True equations

All of the equations we just looked at were true equations because the expression on the left-hand side was equal to the expression on the right-hand side. A false equation has an

=

, but the two expressions are not equal to each other. For example, the following is a false equation.

2 + 2 = 6

When we see an equation that's not true, we can use the not equal sign (

\neq

) to show that the two expressions are not equal:

2 + 2 \neq 6

Let's make sure we understand what a true equation is.

Which of these are true equations?

Solutions to algebraic equations

All of the equations that we've looked at so far have included only numbers, but most equations include a variable. For example, the equation

x + 2 = 6

has a variable in it. Whenever we have an equation like this with a variable, we call it an algebraic equation.

For an algebraic equation, our goal is usually to figure out what value of the variable will make a true equation.

For the equation

x + 2 = 6

, notice how

x = 4

creates a true equation and

x = 3

creates a false equation.

True equation	False equation
$\begin{aligned} x + 2 & = 6 \\ 4 + 2 & \overset{?}{=} 6 \\ 6 & = 6 \end{aligned}$ ‍	$\begin{aligned} x + 2 & = 6 \\ 3 + 2 & \overset{?}{=} 6 \\ 5 & \neq 6 \end{aligned}$ ‍

Notice how we use the symbol $\overset{?}{=}$ ‍ when we're not sure if we have a true equation or a false equation.

The value of the variable that makes a true equation is called a solution to the equation. Going back to our example,

x = 4

is a solution of

x + 2 = 6

because it makes the equation true.

Let's try a few problems

Problem 1

Select the solution to the equation.

3 + g = 10

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Mahesh Govind
Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Mahesh Govind's post “what is a true equation a...”
what is a true equation and a false equation?
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(46 votes)
Answer
- Nihira_Koya
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Nihira_Koya's post “I think it is what makes ...”
  I think it is what makes the equation true like for example - 6+B= 7 true equation would be 1 false because six plus one is seven, false equation would be 2 because six plus two would not equal seven it would equal eight.
  Comment on Nihira_Koya's post “I think it is what makes ...”
  (47 votes)
NoTyOuOk
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to NoTyOuOk's post “What do we do when its a ...”
What do we do when its a decimal??
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(34 votes)
Answer
- igmatthias26
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to igmatthias26's post “The same thing you do wit...”
  The same thing you do with whole numbers
  Comment on igmatthias26's post “The same thing you do wit...”
  (21 votes)
gabriel woodruff
Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to gabriel woodruff's post “is it a equation if its a...”
is it a equation if its a fraction
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(27 votes)
Answer
- nia
  Posted a year ago. Direct link to nia's post “It can be, if it shows so...”
  It can be, if it shows something like 1/2=2/4 (with an equal sign), but it is only an expression if it has no equal sign. For example, 3/8
  Button navigates to signup page
  (10 votes)
jonathan.hale
Posted 3 months ago. Direct link to jonathan.hale's post “why am I doing this in hi...”
why am I doing this in highscool
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(24 votes)
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- Prakash Yadav, Aashish
  Posted 3 months ago. Direct link to Prakash Yadav, Aashish's post “fr me too”
  fr me too
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hcps-tayloral8
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to hcps-tayloral8's post “What is a true equation a...”
What is a true equation and a false??
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(13 votes)
Answer
- avery.kowatch2025
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to avery.kowatch2025's post “True is when the equation...”
  True is when the equation is correct. For example, if I were to write the equation 9+9 = 10+8, it would be true because both sides equal 18. However, if I were to write the equation 9+9 = 9+8, it would be false because one side equals 18 and one side equals 17.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (27 votes)
Jhonathan Zuber
Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Jhonathan Zuber's post “So it can still be an equ...”
So it can still be an equation even if it has flopped Around?
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(16 votes)
Answer
- Nicholas
  Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Nicholas's post “Yes; `2x + 3 = 4` = `4 = ...”
  Yes; 2x + 3 = 4 = 4 = 3 + 2x, and I think you mean "flipped." :)
  Comment on Nicholas's post “Yes; `2x + 3 = 4` = `4 = ...”
  (20 votes)
atina jasmine
Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to atina jasmine's post “what does the 3rd questio...”
what does the 3rd question in problem 3 mean
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(19 votes)
Answer
- Danny
  Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to Danny's post “It means 10=2w =? Well, u...”
  It means 10=2w =?
  Well, using common knowledge we know that 2 x ? = 10
  If a variable is next to a number, has a floating period or has parenthesis we must multiply it.
  HOPE IT HELPS!!
  Comment on Danny's post “It means 10=2w =? Well, u...”
  (15 votes)
SELENA182
Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to SELENA182's post “how come we mostly use x?...”
how come we mostly use x? shouldn't it be something that makes sense like if its 5x6 shouldn't it be something like 5xS because the first letter of 6 is s?? not sure but just a thought.
Button navigates to signup pageComment on SELENA182's post “how come we mostly use x?...”
(16 votes)
Answer
- KuljotS
  Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to KuljotS's post “I am pretty sure it is be...”
  I am pretty sure it is because X is a relatively uncommon letter in the alphabet, for example if we used "a" more regularly it could get confusing.
  Comment on KuljotS's post “I am pretty sure it is be...”
  (14 votes)
ThatFatCat_1916
Posted 5 months ago. Direct link to ThatFatCat_1916's post “To be honest, this was ki...”
To be honest, this was kind of easy. I think it will get harder 🤞
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(20 votes)
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- Eugene Zuev
  Posted 5 months ago. Direct link to Eugene Zuev's post “it would be so if we didn...”
  it would be so if we didn't have the good explanation
  Comment on Eugene Zuev's post “it would be so if we didn...”
  (0 votes)
SSierra
Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to SSierra's post “What is the difference be...”
What is the difference between a true equation and a false equation?
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(10 votes)
Answer
- Joe Song#BringBackBackgrounds
  Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to Joe Song#BringBackBackgrounds's post “a true equation would hav...”
  a true equation would have both sides the same. for a false equation both sides are not the same.there you go!
  Button navigates to signup page
  (17 votes)