Learning pack · Foundation · CIE Core

Equations

What's in this pack: printable worksheet PDF, matching answers PDF, and slides (Foundation · CIE Core depth). Solving linear equations means undoing operations to isolate the unknown, keeping both sides balanced.

Resources at the top · full summary · videos with short notes below.

🎒 Resources in this pack

Jump straight to the printable files, or scroll to the summary and videos.

Scaffolded Learning Sheet — attempt the worksheet, then use the Answers for a full written solution.

📝 Open Learning Sheet ✅ Open answers 🎬 More topic videos (6)📖 Full summary

Lesson slides · narrated video available

Download slides

Files: foundation-9 Equations handout.pdf · foundation-9 Equations handout answers.pdf

Full topic summary

Solving linear equations means undoing operations to isolate the unknown, keeping both sides balanced.

Key learning points

Do the same operation to both sides.
Expand brackets first; collect like terms; then divide.
Check by substituting your solution back into the original equation.

Worked example 1 — Two-step equation

Solve $3x+7=19$ .

Working

x=4

Undo +7, divide by 3.

Worked example 2 — Unknown on both sides

Solve $5x-2=3x+10$ .

Working

x=6

Collect like terms.

Worked example 3 — With brackets

Solve $2(x-3)=10$ .

Working

x=8

Expand or divide first.

🎬 Topic videos

Beautiful Visual Explanation of Completing the Square
Eddie Woo · 4 min
Lower Secondary classroom-friendly explainer. Scaffold→stretch friendly; use with mixed-ability groups.
Introduction to Matrices (1 of 3: Systems of Linear Equations)
Eddie Woo · 5 min
Lower Secondary classroom-friendly explainer. Scaffold→stretch friendly; use with mixed-ability groups.
Math Antics - Basic Inequalities
Math Antics · 13 min
Lower Secondary classroom-friendly explainer. Scaffold→stretch friendly; use with mixed-ability groups.
Is there an equation for a triangle?
Stand-up Maths · 16 min
Enrichment / curiosity clip for Lower Secondary (Numberphile-style). Use for hooks, clubs, or stretch — not core exam content.
Why is there no equation for the perimeter of an ellipse‽
Stand-up Maths · 21 min
Enrichment / curiosity clip for Lower Secondary (Numberphile-style). Use for hooks, clubs, or stretch — not core exam content.
Behold all-new equations for triangles!
Stand-up Maths · 22 min
Enrichment / curiosity clip for Lower Secondary (Numberphile-style). Use for hooks, clubs, or stretch — not core exam content.

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Browse the hub Learning Packs & Summary, or open the compact Equations summary.