When solving an algebraic equation, you must find a value for the variable that makes a true equation.  That is, whatever you do to one side of the equation you must also do to the other side.

     When working on algebra problems,  you must learn to rearrange the terms of an equation and use inverse operations to find the value of the variable.

    Remember...

Whatever you do to one side of the equation you must also do to the other side.

     Look at this equation:                     y + 14 = 34.

     To solve the equation you have to get the variable y alone on one side. You can use the inverse of adding 14 (i.e. subtracting 15)  to get y alone on the left side. By doing this, you would have y alone on the left side, since 14 – 14 = 0, but remember...

Whatever you do to one side of the equation you must also do to the other side.

So...

y + 14 - 14 = 34 - 14
         y = 20

34 – 14 = 20, so we find that y = 20.

     We can check this solution by substituting the value 20 for y in the original equation. When we evaluate for y = 20 we get 34 = 34, which is a true statement. We know that the answer is correct because...

      y + 14 = 34
 (20) + 14 = 30
            34 = 34