Equations are made up of two expressions on either side of an equals sign, like
x + 2 = 1
To solve an equation, you need to find the values of the missing numbers.

Example

'I think of a number, add four, and the answer is seven.'

Written algebraically, this statement is 'x + 4 = 7', where 'x' represents the number you thought of.

'x + 4 = 7' is an example of an algebraic equation. 'x' represents an unknown number.

The number you first thought of must be three (3 + 4 = 7). Therefore, x = 3 is the solution to the equation x + 4 = 7.