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What does x = 4 actually mean?

Not sure what to do with the number on your car? This page explains it. It takes about two minutes to read.

x is just a number with a cover on

x is not a mystery. It is just a number — but you do not know what number it is until the game tells you.

When your car shows x = 4, the game is telling you: wherever you see x, use 4 instead.

That is all it means. Swap the letter for the number.

Let's try it

3x + 1 = 13
Your car: x = 4
  1. Swap x for 4
    3 × 4 + 1
  2. Multiply
    12 + 1
  3. Add
    13

The battery says 13. Your answer is 13. They match. Tap it.

Multiply before you add

Look at 3 × 4 + 1.

You must do the multiplication first. 3 × 4 = 12. Then add 1. Answer: 13.

If you added first — 4 + 1 = 5 — then multiplied — 3 × 5 = 15 — you would get the wrong answer.

The rule

Multiply first. Then add or subtract. This applies to every battery in the game.

Follow these with x = 5

2x + 3
  1. Swap x for 5
    2 × 5 + 3
  2. Multiply
    10 + 3
  3. Add
    13
4x − 7
  1. Swap x for 5
    4 × 5 − 7
  2. Multiply
    20 − 7
  3. Subtract
    13
10 − x
  1. Swap x for 5
    10 − 5
  2. Subtract
    5

Watch out for these

Thing 1

Leaving x in your answer

Some people write the answer as "3x" and stop there.

Do not stop. You know x = 4. Put the number in and finish the sum.

Thing 2

Adding before multiplying

In 3x + 1, do not add 1 to x first.

Multiply x by 3 first. Then add 1. Multiply always comes before add.

Have a go

Your car: x =

Work out the answer and type it in

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