Multi-Step Equations – Smallest (or Largest) Solution

Directions: Using the digits 1 to 9, at most one time each, create an equation where x has the smallest (or greatest) possible value.

Hint

Where do you want to put the smaller (or larger) numbers?
How does choosing the coefficient or constant affect the variable’s value?

Answer

The smallest solution I’ve found so far is x = -70
(9/1)(3x + 8) + 4x = 6x + 2

The largest solution I’ve found so far is x = 8:
(4/8)(6x + 2) + 1x = 3x + 9

Source: Daniel Luevanos

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44 comments

  1. Here is an equation where x=20.

    (9/3)(1x+8)+2x=6x+4

    • The smallest solution I found x = -2.8
      (9)(3x + 8) + 4x = 6x + 2

      27x + 72 + 4x = 6x + 2

      31x +72 = 6x + 2

      25x + 72 = 2

      25x = -70/25

      x = -2.8

  2. Here is an equation where x=61

    (1/7)(8x+2)+5x=6x+9

  3. I think the solution above where the solution is x = -70 is actually a case where 25x = -70, which would make x = -2.8. (9/1)(3x + 8) + 4x = 6x + 2 gives us 27x + 72 + 4x = 6x + 2, which then simplifies to 31x + 72 = 6x + 2, which further simplifies to 25x = -70. Did I miss something in my calculations?

  4. One of my students found several ways to make the equation true for any number, so that you could use 100 or 1,456,918 and it would still be true:
    9/3(1x + 2) + 4x = 7X + 6
    6/3(2x + 4) + 1x = 5x + 8
    6/2(1x + 3) + 4x = 7x + 9

    Another student tried to find the lowest possible and got x = -44.
    7/8(1x + 4) + 5x = 3x + 9

  5. If you define smallest to be closest to zero, then 8/2(9x + 1) + 6x = 3x + 4 is zero.

  6. 2/9(5x+1)+6x=7x+8 is the best answer. X=70. All you have to do is just try.

  7. A student of mine used 1/9(8x+2) = 5x+6 to get a low value of -52

  8. 1/9(8x+2)+4x=5x+5=-52

  9. x=61

    (2/7)(4x+1)+5x=6x+9

  10. 1/2(6x+4)+5x=9x+8

    x=-6

  11. 4/8(3x+4)+2x+3x+9=14
    I don’t know if this is right or not but here is my answer.

  12. In this equation x=1

    1/2(4x+6)+7=9+3

  13. x=1

    1/2(2x+3)+4x=3x+3.5

  14. percydous Guerra

    My equation for x=20

    (9/3)(1x+8)+2=6x+4

  15. 8/2(9x+1)+6x=3x+4

  16. 3/4(5x+9)+2x=6x+2
    x=19/56

  17. 8/1(4x+8)+6x=4x+8
    x=1.8666 or no solution

  18. 2/1x(6x+2)+4x=2x+4
    x=no solution

  19. 1/2(2+x)=(8x)

  20. 9/1(4x+8)+4=6x+2
    x=-2 thats the best answer i got

  21. 1/2(2+x)=(8x)

  22. (8/1)(2x + 7) + 3x = 7x + 2

  23. (9/1)(3x+8)+4x=6x+2

  24. 1/3 (5x + 6) + 4x = 2x + 9 = 3/7

  25. (4/8)(6x + 2) + 1x = 3x + 9
    and x=8

  26. The smallest solution I’ve found so far is x = -70
    (9/1)(3x + 8) + 4x = 6x + 2

  27. The smallest I found is x= -0.3 (repeating)
    (8/1)(2x + 9) + 7x = 6x + 8

  28. (9/1)(3x+8)+4x=6x+2

  29. Hayden McCarty

    The largest solution I’ve found so far is x = 8:
    (4/8)(6x + 2) + 1x = 3x + 9

  30. The smallest equation I found was 1/9(3x+8) +4x =6x +2 which Equals -70

  31. The largest solution I found was (4/8)(6x + 2) + 1x = 3x + 9, which equals to 8.

  32. 1/9(8x + 2) + 4x = 5x + 7….x = -61!

  33. My kids have found x = 70 and x = -70

  34. 1/9(3x+5)+2x=4x+5
    -8/3

  35. (9/1)(3x + 8) + 4x = 6x + 2. X= -70.

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