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AlgebraExam Tips

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Part of Linear Equations — GCSE Mathematics

This exam tips covers Common Mistakes to Avoid within Linear Equations for GCSE Mathematics. Revise Linear Equations in Algebra for GCSE Mathematics with 16 exam-style questions and 12 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 4 of 4 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.

Topic position

Section 4 of 4

Practice

16 questions

Recall

12 flashcards

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • WRONG: 3x + 7 = 22, so x = 22/3 + 7 (Forgetting to deal with +7 first)
  • WRONG: Doing an operation to only ONE side (Must do the same to BOTH sides)
  • RIGHT: Always do inverse operations in reverse order of BIDMAS

Keep building this topic

Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Linear Equations. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.

Worked Example 1: Two-Step EquationThe Golden Rule of EquationsMethod: Solving ax + b = c

Practice Questions for Linear Equations

What is the solution to 3x = 12?

  • A. x = 3
  • B. x = 4
  • C. x = 9
  • D. x = 36
1 markfoundation

Solve x + 7 = 15

1 markfoundation

Quick Recall Flashcards

What does 'solving an equation' mean?
Finding the value of the unknown (e.g. x) that makes the equation true. You isolate x by doing the same operation to both sides.
Golden Rule of solving equations
Whatever you do to one side, you MUST do to the other side to keep the equation balanced.

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Worked Example 1: Two-Step Equation

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Linear Equations