Today is rung 5 of 11 on this topic
Equation and inequality fluency
Can do: Solves any linear equation or inequality, including fractions and variables on both sides, reliably and quickly.
Why it matters
Algebra I assumes this is automatic. Every later topic — quadratics, systems, functions — is bottlenecked by it.
What it looks like when it's wobbly
Can solve them but slowly and with frequent sign or distribution errors, which then corrupt every multi-step problem.
⏱️ Two-minute check
"Solve (2x − 3)/4 = x/2 + 1 and −3(x + 2) ≥ 9."
Solid looks like: Both correct in a couple of minutes, with the inequality flipped.
The full activity for this topic · 20 minutes
Ten Mixed, Every Time
- 1Do ten mixed problems rather than ten of the same type — mixing is what builds real fluency.
- 2Substitute every answer back into the original. Every time, no exceptions.
- 3Keep an error log: write down the type of each mistake, not just the correction.
- 4Once a week, redo the three problem types that appear most in the log.
- 5Time a set and track the time as well as the score.
If it's too hard
Five problems, one type at a time, with the checking step.
If it's too easy
Literal equations — rearrange a formula for a named variable.
Say this
"What kind of mistake was that? Write the type down, not the right answer."