Solve for X Calculator

Type an equation and get x on its own, with every step shown and the answer checked.

Try an example:

What solving for x means

An equation says two expressions are equal. Solving for $x$ means finding the value of $x$ that makes that statement true. For $2 x + 5 = 17$ , only $x = 6$ works, because $2 (6) + 5 = 17$ .

Each step produces a simpler equation with the same solution, until $x$ is alone on one side. The calculator shows every one of those intermediate equations, so you can see why the answer is what it is.

How to use the solve for x calculator

Type or paste your problem into the box above — for example 3(x + 2) = x + 14. Use ^ for powers, / for fractions and sqrt() for square roots, or describe it in words.
Press Enter. The solver works through the problem with every step shown; switch Steps off if you only want the final answer.
Ask a follow-up in the same chat — "why did you do that?" or "now check it" — and it answers with the earlier working in context.

The balance rule

Think of an equation as a balanced scale. Whatever you do to one side you must do to the other — add, subtract, multiply or divide by the same non-zero number — and the balance holds.

a = b ⟹ a + c = b + c and a c = b c

Undo operations in the reverse order they were applied to $x$ : remove added or subtracted terms first, then undo multiplication or division.

A reliable method

Clear brackets by expanding them, and clear fractions by multiplying every term by the lowest common denominator.
Collect the $x$ terms on one side and the plain numbers on the other.
Divide by the coefficient of $x$ , then substitute the answer into the original equation to check it.

Worked example: $3 (x + 2) = x + 14$

Expand the bracket $3 x + 6 = x + 14$
Subtract $x$ from both sides $2 x + 6 = 14$
Subtract 6 from both sides $2 x = 8$
Divide both sides by 2 $x = 4$
CheckLeft side: $3 (4 + 2) = 18$ . Right side: $4 + 14 = 18$ . Both sides match, so $x = 4$ is correct.

Common mistakes to avoid

Expanding only the first term

$3 (x + 2)$ is $3 x + 6$ , not $3 x + 2$ . The number outside multiplies everything inside.

Changing one side only

Subtracting 6 on the left but not the right breaks the equality. Every operation applies to both sides.

Sign slips when moving terms

Moving $- 7$ across the equals sign makes it $+ 7$ . It's safer to think "add 7 to both sides" than "move it over".

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Questions students ask

Can it solve equations with fractions?

Yes. Type them with a slash, like (2x - 1)/3 = (x + 4)/5. The solution starts by multiplying through by the lowest common denominator so the fractions disappear.

What if x appears on both sides?

That's handled the same way: the steps collect all the $x$ terms on one side first. If the $x$ terms cancel completely, the answer explains whether the equation has no solution or is true for every $x$ .

Can it solve for a letter other than x?

Yes. Say which variable you want — for example solve A = P(1 + rt) for r — and it rearranges the formula step by step.

Does it handle x squared?

Yes, although those are quadratic equations and usually have two solutions. The quadratic equation solver page explains the methods it uses.