Equation homework help please , ASD son having meltdown

[legofansmum]

Hi all,

I’m awful at equations and my ASD is having a huge meltdown because his 1:1 TA told him he has to do it in 4 steps and he says it’s impossible.

Here Is what the TA said ...

Maths he is still struggling with equations but when he works with the TA step by step he is fine but when he tries to work independently steps are missed resulting in incorrect answers. He has some Maths homework in his book which I have given him the answers to guide him. He now has to write in the steps at least 4 steps for each one and hopefully he will get to the same answer.

He’s literally in full meltdown over it 😢

Thanks in advance ...

It's been way too long since I did algebra but does this help

Is there a possibility that wires could have got crossed about having to do each one in four steps?

Not sure each one needs 4 steps...

He’s got numbers 1, 4 and 5 right. With the others he needs to keep it simple and try to get x on its own one step at a time.
So for
5 > 2-x
he needs to show the separate steps eg. Add x to both sides gives
5+x > 2
and then take 5 from both sides to get x on its own gives
x > -3.

In the example above he’s done a couple of steps together and especially with < and > signs it can get confusing.

Hope that helps a bit. I really wouldn’t get hung up on the 4 steps per equation though.

I don't really understand the need for four steps (not a teacher!) but do they mean write out like this

2. x + 3 > 5
   x + 3 - 3 > 5 - 3
   x > 2

3. x - 5 = 1/2

X + 3 > 5
So take 3 from each side
X + 3 - 3 > 5 - 3
X > 2

4 < 6 + x
Take 6 from each side
4 - 6 < 6 - 6 + x
-2 < x
Turn the equation round
× > -2