Definition
Solution
A solution is a value, object, or arrangement that makes every required condition true.
What it means
Think of a possible answer as a key. It counts as a solution only if it opens every lock in the problem. You can check a number in an equation by putting it in place of the variable and seeing whether both sides become equal.
Remember it
A solution is not just a promising answer; it is an answer that passes every check.
Example
Solve 3x + 4 = 19. Try x = 5: 3 × 5 + 4 = 15 + 4 = 19, so x = 5 is a solution.
Watch for
A list of steps is a method, not the solution itself, unless the task is using the word informally.
Common mix-up
An answer can look reasonable and still fail a condition; checking is what makes it a verified solution.
Exact meaning
A solution is a value, object, or assignment that satisfies all the equations, inequalities, or other conditions in a mathematical problem. For an equation or inequality, substituting a solution makes the statement true.