Solving a linear equation in Year 8 can feel like solving a puzzle once you understand how to do it! Here’s an easy way to follow the steps:

1. Know the Equation: A linear equation looks like $ax + b = c$. Here, $x$ is the variable we need to find, and $a$, $b$, and $c$ are just numbers.

2. Get the Variable Alone: The goal is to make $x$ stand by itself. Start by moving the constant (the number added or subtracted) to the other side of the equation. For example, if you have $2x + 3 = 11$, subtract 3 from both sides. You’ll get $2x = 8$.

3. Divide by the Number in Front: Now you have $2x = 8$. The next step is to divide both sides by the number in front of $x$, which is 2. So, $x = \frac{8}{2}$, which means $x = 4$.

4. Check Your Answer: Always take the number you found and put it back into the original equation to see if it fits! If it does, awesome—you’ve solved it!

These steps keep things simple and clear, making it much easier to handle linear equations!