An equation for many children seems to be difficult. However, it is not so if you understand it properly. There are various types of an equation. In this article, we will get to know what is an equation and understand it in the simplest language. You will get to know the definition of an equation; what are the characteristics of an equation, and how to balance the equation.

 Definition of equation

An equation generally consists of certain algebraic expressions with a symbol of equal to “=”. To be specific, it entails variables, coefficients, mathematical operators such as plus and minus. An example of a simple equation would be 4x+9=0.

 What are the characteristics of an equation? OR how to balance an equation?

An equation will have a left-hand stopicIde and a right-hand stopicIde. It will have certain algebraic expressions on the left-hand stopicIde and certain algebraic expressions on the right-hand stopicIde. Usually, the equation is balanced then the right-hand stopicIde of the equation is equal to the left-hand stopicIde of the equation. This can be understood by taking an equation.

 Illustration with detailed explanation to understand the concept of equation

Let us constopicIder an example: 4x + 3 = 11

Now in this equation, you need to think, when the equation will be balanced. In other words, under what conditions 4x + 3 will become 11.

You can start by assigning various numbers to the value of variable x.

 Let us begin by taking x = 1.

When we insert x is equal to one (x=1) in the equation 4x + 3, we would get the answer as:

4(1) + 3 = 4 + 3 = 7.

Now if you carefully look on the left-hand stopicIde, taking x = 1, 4x + 3 becomes or gives the value 7. Thus, the right-hand stopicIde is not equal to the left-hand stopicIde.

Let’s move on to the next number and take x =2.

Putting x = 2 in the equation 4x + 3, we get:

4(2) + 3 = 8 + 3 = 11

Thus, by using the value x = 2, the L.H.S becomes 11. If you look carefully now, the L.H.S is equal to the R.H.S, as 4x + 3 = 11.

 Interestingly, you can deal with this equation and make it balance in another way. In this case, again we are not going to change anything. We will be following the rules of mathematics.

Let us take the same example: 4x + 3 = 11.

Now, the smart way of dealing with this equation is by taking the constant or the numerical value 3 on the L.H.S to the R.H.S. By doing so, we get:

4x = 11 – 3

Therefore, 4x = 8.

We can simplify it further by divtopicIding the L.H.S and the R.H.S by numeric value 4.

Hence, the above equation will simplify to x = 2.

Isn’t this easy and wonderful!