Solve for X Calculator With Steps

About this Solve for x Calculator

Solve for x in All Equation Types

This Solve for x Calculator finds the value of x across the equation types you meet in algebra: linear, quadratic, polynomial, rational, radical, absolute value, and systems of equations, along with inequalities. Every answer comes with the steps, so you can see how x was found rather than only the result.

Fast and Accurate x Solver

Enter your equation as typed text or upload a photo of it, and the calculator returns the value of x in seconds, with the working set out line by line. You can compare each step against your own to find exactly where a calculation went off track.

Solve for x with Steps

The calculator does more than give the value of x. It walks through each step of the solution, the way a tutor would, so you can follow the method and reuse it on the next problem on your own.

Solve for x Online

Use the Solve for x Calculator online from any browser, on desktop or mobile, with no download needed. Type or photograph an equation and get an answer with steps wherever you happen to be studying.

Trusted by Students Worldwide

Students from K12 to university use Solvely to solve for x. The Solvely app holds a 4.7 out of 5 rating on the App Store, which works out to a 94% score because 4.7 divided by 5 equals 0.94.

Personal AI Tutor

When a step is unclear, ask the built-in AI tutor a follow-up question. It explains the reasoning behind each move, so you understand the method instead of only copying the answer.

How to use this Solve for x Calculator?

1. Step 1: Type your x equation, or take a photo of it.
2. Step 2: Drag, paste, or upload your picture into the solver area in the center of the interface.
3. Step 3: Press Solve to receive an accurate solution along with a detailed step-by-step explanation for your x problem.

After getting your answer, you can ask follow-up questions to your personal AI tutor or start a new problem.

Key methods for solving for x

Solving Linear Equations

Linear equations are usually in the form ( ax + b = c ), where ( a ), ( b ), and ( c ) are constants and ( x ) is the variable to solve for.

Steps:

• Isolate. Move the term containing ( x ) to one side and the constants to the other.
• Simplify. If the equation has brackets or fractions, simplify them first.
• Solve. Use inverse operations to get ( x ) on its own.

Example: ( 3x + 5 = 20 )

[ 3x + 5 = 20 ]

[ 3x = 15 \quad \text{(subtract 5 from both sides)} ]

[ x = 5 \quad \text{(divide both sides by 3)} ]

[ \text{Check: } 3(5) + 5 = 20 ]

Example with x on both sides: ( 5x - 4 = 2x + 11 )

[ 5x - 4 = 2x + 11 ]

[ 3x - 4 = 11 \quad \text{(subtract } 2x \text{ from both sides)} ]

[ 3x = 15 \quad \text{(add 4 to both sides)} ]

[ x = 5 \quad \text{(divide both sides by 3)} ]

Solving Quadratic Equations

Quadratic equations are in the form ( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 ). Two reliable methods are factoring and the quadratic formula.

By factoring: ( x^2 - 5x + 6 = 0 )

[ x^2 - 5x + 6 = 0 ]

[ (x - 2)(x - 3) = 0 ]

[ x = 2 \quad \text{or} \quad x = 3 ]

By the quadratic formula: ( 2x^2 + 3x - 2 = 0 )

For ( 2x^2 + 3x - 2 = 0 ), ( a = 2 ), ( b = 3 ), and ( c = -2 ).

[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} ]

[ b^2 - 4ac = 9 - 4(2)(-2) = 9 + 16 = 25 ]

[ x = \frac{-3 \pm \sqrt{25}}{4} = \frac{-3 \pm 5}{4} ]

[ x = \frac{1}{2} \quad \text{or} \quad x = -2 ]

Solving Rational Equations

Rational equations include fractions with ( x ) in the denominator. Clear the fractions first, then solve.

Example: ( \frac{2}{x} = \frac{4}{x + 3} )

[ \frac{2}{x} = \frac{4}{x + 3} ]

[ 2(x + 3) = 4x \quad \text{(cross-multiply)} ]

[ 2x + 6 = 4x ]

[ 6 = 2x ]

[ x = 3 ]

Solving Absolute Value Equations

Absolute value equations have the form ( |ax + b| = c ), and they split into two cases because the inside can be positive or negative.

Example: ( |x - 3| = 5 )

[ x - 3 = 5 \quad \Rightarrow \quad x = 8 ]

[ x - 3 = -5 \quad \Rightarrow \quad x = -2 ]

Solving Radical Equations

Radical equations involve square roots. Remove the radical by squaring both sides, then solve and check the answer in the original equation.

Example: ( \sqrt{x + 1} = 3 )

[ \sqrt{x + 1} = 3 ]

[ x + 1 = 9 \quad \text{(square both sides)} ]

[ x = 8 ]

[ \text{Check: } \sqrt{8 + 1} = \sqrt{9} = 3 ]

Solving Inequalities

Solve an inequality like an equation, with one extra rule: flip the sign whenever you multiply or divide by a negative number.

Example: ( -2x > 6 )

[ -2x > 6 ]

[ x < -3 \quad \text{(divide by -2 and flip the sign)} ]

A note on checking your answer

AI solvers, including this one, can occasionally get a step wrong on a multi-step problem. The steps are shown so you can follow the method, then confirm the result yourself.

• Substitute the value of ( x ) back into the original equation and check that both sides match.
• Watch the signs, the order of operations, and any step the solver moves through quickly.
• For a hard problem, compare the answer against a worked textbook example or a second calculator.
• Used this way, the calculator helps you learn the method rather than only copy an answer.

More About this x Calculator

Benefits of Using the Solvely Solve for x Calculator

• Accuracy. It gives precise solutions to algebraic equations, with the steps shown so you can verify each one.
• Easy to use. The interface lets you enter an equation by typing or by photo, and the solution is laid out step by step.
• Saves time. Solving by hand can be slow. The calculator returns the result in seconds, then explains how it got there.
• Helps you learn. Clear, step-by-step solutions help you understand the method, so the next problem is easier to do on your own.

Student Questions, Answered

What types of problems can the Solve for x Calculator solve?

It solves linear, quadratic, polynomial, rational, radical, absolute value, exponential, and logarithmic equations, and it solves inequalities. For each one it shows the steps, not only the final value of x.

Can I submit a picture to solve for x?

Yes. Upload or photograph your equation and the AI reads it, then solves for x with the working shown. You can also type the equation directly.

Does it show the steps, or just the answer?

It shows the steps. Each solution is broken into the same moves you would make by hand, so you can use it to check your work and to learn the method.

Is the Solve for x Calculator free?

Yes. You can solve as many equations as you want for free, by typing them in or dragging in a photo, with no account needed. A free Solvely account adds follow-up questions to the AI tutor and saves your history.

Can Solvely solve other math problems?

Yes. Solvely is a broad homework helper. It solves algebra as well as other math, and subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology, and economics.

How accurate is it, and should I check the answer?

It is accurate on most problems and shows the steps so you can follow the method, but no AI solver is perfect on every multi-step question. Use the steps to understand the solution, then verify the final value of x by substituting it back into the original equation.

User Review

I snapped a photo of my algebra homework and it solved for x in seconds, then showed every step so I could see how it got there. It helped me catch where I was going wrong.

Review by Verified Solvely user, posted on 05/28/2026