Lesson video
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Press play for Wednesday’s lesson on multiplying and dividing to solve. Then catch the Bandit Error further down the page and finish with the Mission.
October · Week 1 · Day 3
Multiply and Divide to Solve
6x does not mean 6 and then x — it means 6 times x. Today you undo multiplying by dividing, and see why taking 6 away leaves the equation exactly where it started.
Three things to lock in.
These are the ideas the Mission asks you to use.
6xRead it as six times x. The multiplication is implied, not optional.
Divide to undoMultiplying by 6 is undone by dividing by 6 — on both sides.
Check itPut the answer back in. 6(7) = 42.
✗ Today’s Bandit Error
Subtracting 6 will not undo 6x.
Bandit reaches for the move that worked yesterday. Different attachment, different key.
✗ 6x − 6 = 42 − 6
✓ 6x ÷ 6 = 42 ÷ 6
The 6 is multiplying x, so only dividing undoes it. Subtracting 6 is legal and gets you no closer to x on its own.
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Wednesday’s Mission has 10 problems plus the Mission Debrief so you can check your reasoning when you finish.
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