A two-step equation hides the unknown behind two operations. To free x, undo them — but undo them in reverse order. Take:

Here x was first multiplied by 2, then 3 was added. Peeling that back works outside-in: undo the addition first (subtract 3), then undo the multiplication (divide by 2). This is just a one-step equation done twice — and it mirrors order of operations run backwards.

See it solved

Watch 2x + 3 = 11 come apart one line at a time. Whatever we do to the left, we do to the right too — so the scales stay balanced. Step through it.

See it explained

Sal Khan solves two-step equations by doing the same thing to both sides.