To solve one-step linear equations easily, you need to know one important idea: your goal is to get the variable all alone. Let's go through the steps together.

Step 1: Look at the Equation

Let’s take a look at this simple equation:

$x + 5 = 12$

Step 2: Get Rid of the Constant

To get $x$ by itself, you need to remove the constant (which is $5$ here). You can do this by doing the opposite operation. Since we have a plus sign (+), we will subtract.

$x + 5 - 5 = 12 - 5$

Now, this simplifies to:

$x = 7$

Step 3: Check Your Work

It’s a good idea to check if your answer is correct. Just plug $7$ back into the original equation:

$7 + 5 = 12$

Since this is true, we can say that $x = 7$ is the right answer!

Quick Summary of Key Steps

1. Addition: Subtract the constant.
   • Example: If $x + 3 = 10$, then $x = 10 - 3 = 7$
2. Subtraction: Add the constant.
   • Example: If $x - 4 = 6$, then $x = 6 + 4 = 10$

With some practice, you will get better at solving these equations quickly!