Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
Teachers
Pupils
icon-background-square
New
New
Year 8

Solving simple linear equations with a multiplicative step

I can solve a linear equation requiring a single multiplicative step.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
icon-background-square
New
New
Year 8

Solving simple linear equations with a multiplicative step

I can solve a linear equation requiring a single multiplicative step.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
View new resources
arrow-right

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. An equation involving an multiplicative step can be represented with a bar model.
  2. Using the bar model you can write all the arrangements of the equation with an multiplicative step.
  3. One of the arrangements will give the solution to the equation.
  4. This can be written algebraically to find the solution.

Keywords

  • Reciprocal - The reciprocal is the multiplicative inverse of any non-zero number.

Common misconception

When solving equations pupils may not use the inverse operation.

Working out should include each step then pupils can check each step using substitution.

This is a great chance to consolidate fraction skills, including the use of reciprocals. Pupils should understand the equivalence of multiplication and division by the reciprocal and use these interchangeably to suit the question.
speech-bubble
Teacher tip
copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on

Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Skip lesson video

Loading...

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these equations can be written from this bar model?
An image in a quiz
$$x − 6.2 = 8.3$$
Correct answer: $$x + 6.2 = 8.3$$
$$x = 8.3 − x$$
Correct answer: $$6.2 = 8.3 − x$$
Correct answer: $$8.3 − 6.2 = x$$
Q2.
The solution to the equation $$x + 3 = 17$$ is when $$x$$ =
Correct Answer: 14, fourteen
Q3.
The solution to the equation $$x − 8.6 = 10$$ is when $$x$$ =
Correct Answer: 18.6
Q4.
Any non-zero number multiplied by its reciprocal is equal to
Correct Answer: 1, one
Q5.
Match each number to its reciprocal.
Correct Answer:$$1\over 5$$,$$5$$
tick

$$5$$

Correct Answer:$$−{1\over 5}$$,$$-5$$
tick

$$-5$$

Correct Answer:$$4\over 5$$,$$5\over 4$$
tick

$$5\over 4$$

Correct Answer:$$−{4\over 5}$$,$$−{5\over 4}$$
tick

$$−{5\over 4}$$

Correct Answer:$$5$$,$${1\over 5}$$
tick

$${1\over 5}$$

Correct Answer:$$−5$$,$$−{1\over 5}$$
tick

$$−{1\over 5}$$

Q6.
Match each calculation to an equivalent calculation.
Correct Answer:$$\times {2\over 7}$$,$$\div {7\over 2}$$
tick

$$\div {7\over 2}$$

Correct Answer:$$\div (-{2\over 7})$$,$$\times( −{7\over 2})$$
tick

$$\times( −{7\over 2})$$

Correct Answer:$$\times (−7)$$,$$\div( −{1\over 7})$$
tick

$$\div( −{1\over 7})$$

Correct Answer:$$\times( −{1\over 7})$$,$$\div( −7)$$
tick

$$\div( −7)$$

Correct Answer:$$\times {1\over 7}$$,$$\div 7$$
tick

$$\div 7$$

Correct Answer:$$\div {1\over 7}$$,$$\times 7$$
tick

$$\times 7$$

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Using this bar model, the solution to the equation $$6x = 30$$ is when $$x= $$
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 5, five
Q2.
Using this bar model, the solution to the equation $${1\over 4}x = 8$$ is when $$x=$$
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 32
Q3.
The solution to $$3x = 396$$ is when $$x=$$
Correct Answer: 132
Q4.
Which of these show the correct working to isolate one positive $$x$$ for the equation $$0.5x = 3.5$$?
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q5.
The solution to $$-9x = 36$$ is when $$x =$$
Correct Answer: −4, - 4, − 4, -4
Q6.
Which of these is the solution to $${4\over 5} x = 20$$?
4
5
16
Correct answer: 25
28