The following lists some simple solutions to selected algebraic equations:

• Solve for the equation 4x - 4 = 12

  add 4 to each side: 4x = 16

  divide both sides by 4: x = 16/4

  solve for x: x = 4

• Solve for the equation (x + 3)² - 4x = (x—1)² + 3

  expand each side by doing the operations in the parentheses: x² + 2x + 9 =

  x² - 2x + 4

  then add -x² to each side (another way of subtracting):

  2x + 9 = -2x + 4

  then add 2x to each side: 4x + 9 = 4

  then add -9 to each side: 4x = -5

  then multiply each side by 1/4 (divide by 4): x = -5/4