 manipulate the original equation into its final form,
simplifying it step by step until it can’t be simplified any further.<span class="intersentencespace"></span> The only requirement is that the manipulations we make transform one true equation into another true equation.<span class="intersentencespace"></span> In this example,
the first simplifying step is to add the number four to both sides of the equation:</p>
<div class="equation">\[ 
	 	x^2-4  \; + 4  	=	45    \; + 4, 	    \\
	 \]
</div><p class=