What is the goal when solving an equation with variables on both sides?

The goal is to isolate the variable on one side of the equation.

In the equation 4x + 2 = x - 7, what would be a valid first step to begin isolating the x terms?

Subtract x from both sides of the equation.

Performing the same operation on both sides ensures that the equation remains balanced and the equality is maintained.

I can solve multi-step equations with variables on both sides.

1
When solving equations with variables on both sides, the goal is to isolate the variable on one side of the equation.
2
To isolate the variable, perform the same operations on both sides of the equation to maintain equality.
3
In the equation 2x + 3 = 5x - 2, we can subtract 2x from both sides, then add 2 to both sides to begin isolating the variable.