My 7th grader keeps making the same alge
Ask
My 7th grader keeps making the same algebra error: given x + 5 = 12, she writes x = 12 + 5 = 17. She knows to "move the 5 to the other side" but doesn't flip the sign — she treats transposing as just moving the number, not changing its operation.
The correct answer is x = 12 − 5 = 7.
I want to build a mistake-notebook card with her for this specific error. Format requirement: exactly 5 lines, no academic jargon, no explanatory rules — just the 5 card fields.
Please build the 5-line card for this specific error (x + 5 = 12 → x = 17 instead of x = 7).
Answer
I'll build the card and save it. Let me first check the script's exact field requirements.
Card saved.
1. Problem: x + 5 = 12
2. Wrong: x = 12 + 5 = 17
3. Fix: x = 12 - 5 = 7
4. Tag: transposing
5. Cause: Moves the number across the equals but doesn't flip + to -
First review lands tomorrow (2026-09-23). If she makes the same kind of slip again — moving a number without flipping its sign — it goes on this same card, not a new one.