Grade 8 Workbook — Chapter 5: Multistep Linear Equations

SOL 8.PFA.4 · Companion to Textbook Chapter 5

Each page below is one Canva page. Headings are sized for direct paste: page title as H1, section labels as H2. Figures referenced by filename live in ../figures/. Every numbered item is the same problem as in the textbook, so one answer key serves both. Item numbers run continuously from 1 to 124.

PAGE 1 — Chapter opener

Chapter 5 · Multistep Linear Equations

Standard 8.PFA.4

In this chapter you will:

Model multistep equations with balance scales and algebra tiles, with the variable on one or both sides
Simplify a side first, by combining like terms or expanding with the distributive property
Solve equations of up to four steps using the properties of equality
Write an equation for a situation, and write a situation for an equation
Solve problems in context, then confirm and interpret the answer

Words to know: multistep linear equation · like terms · distributive property · expand · properties of equality · additive inverse property · multiplicative identity property · reciprocal · algebra tiles · zero pair · colored chips · balance scale · bar model · substitution · confirm · interpret · break-even point

Reminder from Grade 7: a two-step equation like $3x + 7 = 22$ needed two undo moves. Here a side may need simplifying first, and the variable may appear on both sides — but never more than four steps in all.

PAGE 2 — Simplify each side first

5.1 Combining Like Terms Before You Solve

Step 0 of every multistep equation: make each side as short as it can be.

$5x + 2x - 3 = 18 \quad \rightarrow \quad \underline{\hspace{2cm}}\,x - 3 = 18$

Complete the table.

Equation	Rewritten as a sum	Simplified side
$5x + 2x - 3 = 18$
$4x + 9 - x = 24$
$30 = 8n - 3n + 5$
$10 - 4k + k = 1$

Solve. Show the simplified line, then each move, then the check.

$3x + 4x - 5 = 16$

Simplified: _______________ Solution: $x =$ ______

Check in the original: _______________________________________________
$6a - 2a + 7 = 27$

Simplified: _______________ Solution: $a =$ ______ Check: ______________
$23 = 9m + 3 - 4m$

Simplified: _______________ Solution: $m =$ ______ Check: ______________
$1.2x + 0.8x + 3 = 11$

Simplified: _______________ Solution: $x =$ ______ Check: ______________

PAGE 3 — Practice · Simplify, then solve

Practice · Lesson 5.1

Solve and confirm.

a) $2x + 5x + 4 = 25$	b) $8y - 3y - 6 = 14$

c) $10 - 4k + k = 1$	d) $7 = 2n + 5n - 21$

Solve and confirm.

a) $\tfrac{1}{3}x + \tfrac{2}{3}x + 5 = 12$	b) $0.25p + 0.75p - 2.5 = 4.5$

$-3x + 8x - 11 = 19$

Simplified: _______________ $x =$ ______ Check: _______________
$14 = 6 - 2w + 5w$ State the solution exactly.

Simplified: _______________ $w =$ ______ Check: _______________
Write an equation that requires combining like terms and whose solution is $x = 4$ .

Equation: _______________ Check: _______________

PAGE 4 — Application, reasoning, error hunt

Show What You Know · Lesson 5.1

Apply it. A triangle has sides of $x$ , $2x$ , and $3x + 4$ inches, and its perimeter is 34 inches.

Equation: _______________ Simplified: _______________ $x =$ ______

Three side lengths: ______ in, ______ in, ______ in
Explain. Why does combining like terms on one side require nothing to be done to the other side, even though every property of equality does?
Find the error. Asked to solve $4x + 3x - 2 = 19$ , a student writes $5x = 19$ on the next line.

What went wrong? _______________________________________________

Correct solution: $x =$ ______ Check: _______________

PAGE 5 — Exit ticket 5.1

Exit Ticket · Lesson 5.1

Name: ________________________ Date: ____________

$5x + 3x - 7 = 17$ $x =$ ______ Check: _______________
$9 = 4t - t + 3$ $t =$ ______ Check: _______________
$0.5m + 2.5m - 1 = 11$ $m =$ ______ Check: _______________
Why can combining like terms never change the solution of an equation?

PAGE 6 — Blocks in both pans

5.2 Modeling with the Variable on Both Sides

FIGURE: fig1-balance-both-sides.png (full width)

Fill in the blanks.

The left pan holds ______ blocks labeled $x$ and ______ chips. The right pan holds ______ block labeled $x$ and ______ chips.

The beam is level, so the equation is _______________.

The one rule: whatever you do to one pan, _______________________________________________.

FIGURE: fig2-balance-both-sides-sequence.png (full width)

Label each panel with the move that produced it.

Panel 1 → Panel 2: _______________________________________________

Panel 2 → Panel 3: _______________________________________________

Panel 3 → Panel 4: _______________________________________________

Why take the blocks off before the chips? _______________________________________________

PAGE 7 — Tiles, like terms, and zero pairs

Tiles on Two Mats

FIGURE: fig3-tiles-combine-like-terms.png (full width)

Sliding the $x$ tiles together is the hands-on version of ____________________.

FIGURE: fig4-tiles-both-sides-zero-pairs.png (full width)

A $+1$ tile and a $-1$ tile together are worth ______. They form a ____________.

Guided practice.

A balance holds four $x$ blocks and 3 chips on the left pan, and one $x$ block and 12 chips on the right pan.

Equation: _______________
Solve item 17 by describing each move, then confirm by rebuilding the scale.

Move 1: _______________ Move 2: _______________ Move 3: _______________

$x =$ ______ Rebuilt check: left ______ chips, right ______ chips
Model $2x + 6 = 4x$ with tiles.

TILE DRAWING SPACE: 1.5 in tall, full width — two mats side by side

Moves: _______________________________________________ $x =$ ______
Model $3x - 4 = x + 2$ , naming the zero pairs you use.

Zero pairs used: _______________ $x =$ ______ Model check: _______________

PAGE 8 — Practice · Modeling

Practice · Lesson 5.2

Write the equation shown by each model and solve it.

Model	Equation	Solution
a) five $x$ blocks and 2 chips on the left pan, three $x$ blocks and 10 chips on the right pan
b) two $x$ tiles, three more $x$ tiles, and one $1$ tile on the left mat, sixteen $1$ tiles on the right mat

Model $6x = 2x + 12$ . Moves: _______________ $x =$ ______
Model $4x - 3 = 2x + 5$ , naming the zero pairs.

Zero pairs: _______________ $x =$ ______ Model check: _______________
Model $12 - x = 2x + 3$ . Moves: _______________ $x =$ ______
Model $5x + 4 = 3x + 4$ . Moves: _______________ $x =$ ______

Why is this still a perfectly good solution? _______________________________________________

PAGE 9 — Reasoning and application

Show What You Know · Lesson 5.2

Find the error. Devon models $3x + 5 = x + 11$ , removes one $x$ tile from the left mat only, and reports $2x + 5 = x + 11$ .

What went wrong? _______________________________________________

Correct solution: $x =$ ______
Apply it. Two identical boxes together with a 5-pound weight balance one box of the same kind together with a 9-pound weight.

Equation: _______________ Scale moves: _______________________________________________

$b =$ ______ pounds Scale check: left ______ lb, right ______ lb
Explain. Why is removing one $x$ block from each pan legal even though you do not know what $x$ is worth?

PAGE 10 — Exit ticket 5.2

Exit Ticket · Lesson 5.2

Name: ________________________ Date: ____________

Balance: three $x$ blocks and 7 chips on the left pan, one $x$ block and 15 chips on the right.

Equation: _______________ $x =$ ______
Model $4x - 1 = 2x + 7$ . Moves: _______________ $x =$ ______
Use a model to confirm whether $x = 2$ is the solution of $5x + 1 = 3x + 5$ .

Left count: ______ Right count: ______ Is it a solution? ______
Why must the counts on the two mats match after every move?

PAGE 11 — Expanding

5.3 Expanding with the Distributive Property

$a(b + c) = ab + ac$

The outside factor multiplies EVERY term inside, sign and all.

Two routes for $3(x + 4) = 21$ .

Route 1 — expand first: $3x + \underline{\hspace{2cm}} = 21$ , so $x =$ ______

Route 2 — divide first: $x + 4 = \underline{\hspace{2cm}}$ , so $x =$ ______

When does Route 2 NOT work? _______________________________________________

Complete the sign table.

Expression	Expanded
$-4(x - 3)$
$-(x - 7)$
$\tfrac{1}{2}(6x + 8)$
$\tfrac{2}{3}(9x - 6)$
$-2(3x - 5)$

Guided practice.

$4(x + 3) = 28$ Route 1: _______________ Route 2: _______________ $x =$ ______
$3(2x - 1) = 21$ Expanded: _______________ $x =$ ______ Check: ______
$2(x + 5) + 3x = 30$ Expanded: _______________ Combined: _______________ $x =$ ______
$-3(x - 2) = 18$ Expanded: _______________ $x =$ ______ Check: ______

PAGE 12 — Practice · Expand, then solve

Practice · Lesson 5.3

Solve and confirm.

a) $5(x - 2) = 25$	b) $6(2x + 1) = 42$

c) $-2(x + 7) = 4$	d) $\tfrac{2}{3}(9x - 6) = 20$

Solve and confirm.

a) $4(x + 1) + 2x = 34$	b) $3(x - 4) - x = 6$

$2(x + 3) + 3(x - 1) = 23$

Expanded: _______________ Combined: _______________ $x =$ ______ Check: ______
$0.5(4x + 6) = 11$ $x =$ ______ Check: ______

PAGE 13 — Reasoning, application, error hunt

Show What You Know · Lesson 5.3

Explain. Solve $3(x + 4) = 21$ both ways.

Dividing first: _______________________________________________

Expanding first: _______________________________________________

Why must the two routes agree? _______________________________________________
Write an equation that requires the distributive property and has solution $x = -2$ .

Equation: _______________ Check: _______________
Apply it. Four identical gift bags each hold $x$ stickers and 3 pencils, and the bags hold 40 items in all.

Equation: _______________ $x =$ ______ What the answer means: _______________
Find the error. Asked to solve $-2(x - 5) = 8$ , a student writes $-2x - 10 = 8$ and reports $x = -9$ .

What went wrong? _______________________________________________

Correct solution: $x =$ ______ Check that exposes $-9$ : _______________

PAGE 14 — Exit ticket 5.3

Exit Ticket · Lesson 5.3

Name: ________________________ Date: ____________

$6(x - 2) = 18$ $x =$ ______ Check: ______
$2(3x + 4) - 4x = 20$ $x =$ ______ Check: ______
$-5(x + 1) = 15$ $x =$ ______ Check: ______
Why must the factor outside the parentheses multiply every term inside?

PAGE 15 — Gathering the variable

5.4 Solving with the Variable on Both Sides

FIGURE: fig5-four-step-order.png (full width)

The four steps, in order.

____________ any parentheses — distributive property
____________ like terms within each side
____________ the variable terms on one side, constants on the other
____________ by the coefficient

Tip: move the ____________ variable term, so the coefficient you divide by stays positive.

Name the property used at each step of $5x + 3 = 3x + 11$ .

Step	Line	Property
subtract $3x$	$2x + 3 = 11$
subtract $3$	$2x = 8$
divide by $2$	$x = 4$

Guided practice.

$6x + 1 = 4x + 9$ Property at each step: _______________ $x =$ ______ Check: ______
$8x - 5 = 3x + 20$ $x =$ ______ Check: ______
$3(x - 2) = x + 4$ Expanded: _______________ $x =$ ______ Check: ______
$9 - 2x = 4x - 15$ $x =$ ______ Check: ______

PAGE 16 — Practice · Both sides

Practice · Lesson 5.4

Solve and confirm.

a) $7x + 2 = 5x + 14$	b) $4x - 9 = x + 3$

c) $10 - 3x = 2 - x$	d) $2x + 7 = 5x - 8$

Solve and confirm.

a) $5(x - 1) = 3x + 7$	b) $2(2x + 3) = 3(x + 5)$

$6x + 4 - 2x = x + 19$ Combined: _______________ $x =$ ______ Check: ______
$0.4x + 1.2 = 0.2x + 2$ $x =$ ______ Check: ______
$\tfrac{2}{3}x + 1 = \tfrac{1}{3}x + 4$ $x =$ ______ Check: ______

PAGE 17 — Reasoning, application, error hunt

Show What You Know · Lesson 5.4

Explain. Solve $4x + 6 = 6x - 2$ twice.

Subtracting $4x$ : _______________________________________________

Subtracting $6x$ : _______________________________________________

Why is moving the smaller variable term usually easier? _______________
Apply it. Studio A charges a $30 registration fee plus $4 per class. Studio B charges $6 per class and no fee.

Let $c =$ _______________ Equation: _______________ $c =$ ______
Find the error. Solving $5x + 2 = 2x + 14$ , a student subtracts $2x$ from the left side only and writes $3x + 2 = 14$ .

What went wrong? _______________________________________________

Correct solution: $x =$ ______ Check: _______________

PAGE 18 — Exit ticket 5.4

Exit Ticket · Lesson 5.4

Name: ________________________ Date: ____________

$9x - 4 = 6x + 11$ $x =$ ______ Check: ______
$2(x + 5) = 4x - 2$ $x =$ ______ Check: ______
$12 - x = 3x + 4$ $x =$ ______ Check: ______
List the four steps in order and say what each one is for.
1. ____________________ 2. ____________________
2. ____________________ 4. ____________________

PAGE 19 — From words to symbols

5.5 Writing Equations and Writing Situations

A comparison puts an expression on each side.

Situation phrase	What it becomes
a $30 fee plus $12 per month
$18 per month, no fee
the two totals are equal

Careful with word order. "Five less than three times a number" is ____________, not $5 - 3n$ .

Guided practice.

Rink A: $8 admission plus $3 per hour. Rink B: $5 per hour.

Let $h =$ _______________ Equation: _______________ $h =$ ______
Four more than twice a number is the same as the number increased by 10.

Equation: _______________ $n =$ ______ Check: ______
A triangle has sides $x$ , $x + 2$ , and $2x + 1$ inches; perimeter 27 inches.

Equation: _______________ $x =$ ______ Sides: ______, ______, ______
Write a situation in context for $5x + 15 = 8x$ .

Situation: _______________________________________________

Solution: $x =$ ______

PAGE 20 — Practice · Writing equations

Practice · Lesson 5.5

Seven less than five times a number equals three times the number increased by 5.

Equation: _______________ $n =$ ______ Check: ______
Apply it. Plan A: $40 plus $2 per gigabyte. Plan B: $6 per gigabyte.

Let $g =$ _______________ Equation: _______________ $g =$ ______
Apply it. Three identical crates with a 12-kg weight balance five identical crates with a 2-kg weight.

Equation: _______________ $c =$ ______ kg Check: ______
A rectangle's length is 4 cm more than its width; perimeter 36 cm.

Equation: _______________ Width ______ cm Length ______ cm

PAGE 21 — Practice · Writing situations

Practice · Write the Story

A good invented situation passes three tests: the operations match, the numbers land in the right roles, and the answer is a sensible thing to have that many of.

Situation for $6x + 20 = 10x$ :

Solution: $x =$ ______ Check: _______________
Situation for $4(x + 3) = 32$ (use identical groups):

Solution: $x =$ ______ Check: _______________
Situation for $2x + 4x + 5 = 41$ :

Solution: $x =$ ______ Check: _______________
Find the error. For "shirts cost $12 each plus a $20 shipping charge at one store, and $16 each with free shipping at another; for how many shirts are the totals equal?" a student writes $12s + 20 = 16s + 20$ .

Why does that not match? _______________________________________________

Correct equation: _______________ $s =$ ______

PAGE 22 — Exit ticket 5.5

Exit Ticket · Lesson 5.5

Name: ________________________ Date: ____________

Club A: $18 membership plus $4 per visit. Club B: $6 per visit.

Equation: _______________ $v =$ ______
Three more than four times a number is the same as twice the number increased by 15.

Equation: _______________ $n =$ ______
Write a situation in context for $5(x + 2) = 40$ .

_______________________________________________ Solution: $x =$ ______
How do you decide which quantity in a comparison belongs on each side?

PAGE 23 — Finishing a problem in context

5.6 Solving, Confirming, Interpreting

A problem in context is finished when you have all six.

defined the variable, with units
written the equation
solved it
confirmed the solution in the ORIGINAL equation
interpreted the solution in the context
stated the answer in a sentence with units

Confirming vs. interpreting.

Confirming answers: _______________________________________________

Interpreting answers: _______________________________________________

FIGURE: fig7-break-even-graph.png (full width)

The lines cross at $c =$ , where each total is $.

For 22 classes or fewer, Plan ______ is cheaper. For 23 or more, Plan ______ is cheaper.

FIGURE: fig6-bar-model-both-sides.png (full width)

Trimming the four equal parts from both bars leaves $60 = \underline{\hspace{2cm}}s$ , so $s =$ ______.

PAGE 24 — Guided practice · Context

Guided Practice · Lesson 5.6

Gym A: $50 joining fee plus $10 per month. Gym B: $20 per month.

Equation: _______________ $m =$ ______ Interpretation sentence: _______________
A rectangle's length is 3 times its width; perimeter 48 cm.

Equation: _______________ Width ______ cm Length ______ cm Perimeter check: ______
Tank A: 80 L draining 6 L per minute. Tank B: 20 L filling 4 L per minute.

Equation: _______________ $t =$ ______ min Amount in each tank: ______ L
Five concert tickets plus a $4 order fee came to $46.50.

Equation: _______________ $t = \$$ ______ Usable as a price? ______ Why? ______

PAGE 25 — Practice · Context

Practice · Lesson 5.6

Apply it. Shop A: $60 setup plus $4 per shirt. Shop B: $10 per shirt.

Equation: _______________ $s =$ ______ shirts Equal total: $______
A rectangle's length is 5 cm more than twice its width; perimeter 64 cm.

Equation: _______________ Width ______ cm Length ______ cm
Sam has $240 and spends $15 per week; Tara has $120 and saves $15 per week.

Equation: _______________ $w =$ ______ weeks Each has $______
A $25 deposit plus three equal monthly payments totaled $187.

Equation: _______________ One payment: $______
Six friends each pay the same amount, a $9 coupon is applied, and $51 is paid in all.

Equation: _______________ One share: $______ Interpretation: _______________
Service A: $3.50 plus $1.25 per mile. Service B: $8.00 plus $0.75 per mile.

Equation: _______________ $m =$ ______ miles Equal fare: $______

PAGE 26 — Reasoning and interpretation

Show What You Know · Lesson 5.6

Explain. A trip needs vans carrying 6 students each, or the same number of vans carrying 4 students each plus 15 students in cars.

Solve $6v = 4v + 15$ : $v =$ ______

What the exact answer means: _______________________________________________

Vans actually needed: ______ Why? _______________________________________________
Find the error. For "Plan A costs $40 plus $5 per class and Plan B costs $9 per class," a student writes $40 + 5c = 9c$ , finds $c = 10$ , and concludes "Plan A is always cheaper."

The equation and the solution are correct. What is wrong with the interpretation?

Correct conclusion: _______________________________________________

PAGE 27 — Exit ticket 5.6

Exit Ticket · Lesson 5.6

Name: ________________________ Date: ____________

Club A: $24 plus $3 per visit. Club B: $7 per visit.

Equation: _______________ $v =$ ______ Interpretation: _______________
A rectangle's length is 2 m more than its width; perimeter 28 m.

Width ______ m Length ______ m
Confirm whether $x = 7$ is the solution of $4x - 5 = 2x + 9$ .

Left side: ______ Right side: ______ Solution? ______
What is the difference between confirming a solution and interpreting one?

PAGE 28 — Chapter 5 review, part 1

Chapter 5 Review

Part A · Modeling with concrete and pictorial representations

Balance: five $x$ blocks and 2 chips on the left pan, two $x$ blocks and 11 chips on the right.

Equation: _______________ Moves: _______________ $x =$ ______ Scale check: ______
Model and solve $3x + 4 = x + 10$ with algebra tiles.

TILE DRAWING SPACE: 1.5 in tall, full width

Moves: _______________ $x =$ ______
Model and solve $4x - 3 = 2x + 1$ , naming the zero pairs.

Zero pairs: _______________ $x =$ ______
Model and solve $2(x + 3) = 10$ using two identical groups of tiles.

TILE DRAWING SPACE: 1.5 in tall, full width

$x =$ ______

PAGE 29 — Chapter 5 review, part 2

Chapter 5 Review (continued)

Part B · Solving with properties of equality

Solve and confirm.

a) $4x + 3x - 8 = 20$	b) $5(x - 3) = 20$

c) $6x + 5 = 2x + 21$	d) $3(x + 1) = x + 11$

Solve and confirm.

a) $0.6x + 0.4x - 2 = 5$	b) $\tfrac{3}{4}x + \tfrac{1}{4}x + 6 = 15$

$2(3x - 4) = 4x + 6$ $x =$ ______ Check: ______
$9 - 4x = 2x - 15$ $x =$ ______ Check: ______
$5x + 2 = 3x + 9$ State the solution exactly. $x =$ ______ Check: ______
Show every step of $4(x - 2) + 3x = 27$ with the property used at each step.

Line	Property

PAGE 30 — Chapter 5 review, part 3

Chapter 5 Review (continued)

Part C · Writing an equation from a situation

Shop A: $16 base fee plus $4 per hour. Shop B: $8 per hour.

Equation: _______________ $h =$ ______
Eight less than six times a number equals four times the number increased by 2.

Equation: _______________ $n =$ ______
An isosceles triangle has two equal sides of length $s$ and a base 3 inches shorter than a leg; perimeter 27 inches.

Equation: _______________ $s =$ ______ in Sides: ______, ______, ______

Part D · Creating a situation from an equation

Situation for $3x + 12 = 5x$ : _______________________________________________

$x =$ ______
Situation for $6(x + 2) = 42$ : _______________________________________________

$x =$ ______
Situation for $2x + 4x + 5 = 41$ : _______________________________________________

$x =$ ______

PAGE 31 — Chapter 5 review, part 4

Chapter 5 Review (continued)

Part E · Solving problems in context

Jae has $100 and saves $25 per week; Mira has $180 and saves $15 per week.

Equation: _______________ $w =$ ______ weeks Amount: $______
A rectangle's length is 3 cm less than twice its width; perimeter 42 cm.

Equation: _______________ Width ______ cm Length ______ cm
Four festival tickets plus a $6.50 service fee came to $50.50.

Equation: _______________ One ticket: $______

Part F · Interpreting algebraic solutions in context

Studio A: $60 plus $3 per class. Studio B: $7 per class.

$c =$ ______ Interpretation sentence: _______________________________________________

Cheaper for 20 classes: ______ (A: $______ , B: $______ )
Solve $6b = 4b + 15$ , where $b$ is a number of buses.

$b =$ ______ Check: ______ Why it cannot be the number ordered: _______________

Buses actually needed: ______
A student models a timing problem with $5h + 20 = 10$ , where $h$ is hours since noon, and finds $h = -2$ .

Check: ______ What the negative solution means: _______________________________________________

PAGE 32 — Chapter 5 review, part 5

Chapter 5 Review (continued)

Part G · Mixed reasoning, error analysis, and enrichment

Solve $6x + 9 = 3x + 24$ two ways.

Gathering on the left: _______________ Gathering on the right: _______________

$x =$ ______ Check: _______________
Write one equation needing the distributive property and one needing combining like terms, each with solution $x = 3$ .

Equation 1: _______________ Check: ______

Equation 2: _______________ Check: ______
Confirm whether $x = 3$ is the solution of $5(x - 1) = 2x + 4$ .

Left side: ______ Right side: ______ Solution? ______
Find the error. Solving $-3(x - 4) = 6$ , a student writes $-3x - 12 = 6$ and reports $x = -6$ .

What went wrong? _______________ Correct: $x =$ ______ Check exposing $-6$ : ______
Enrichment. Try to solve $4x + 7 = 4x - 2$ .

What happens: _______________ Why there is no solution: _______________
Enrichment. Try to solve $3(2x + 4) = 6x + 12$ .

What happens: _______________ Why every number works: _______________

Canva production notes

Page size: 8.5 × 11 in, 0.75 in margins
Type: headings 24–28 pt, body 12–14 pt, answer blanks 14 pt with 1.5 line spacing
Tile drawing spaces: plain white boxes with a hairline border, split down the middle by a light vertical rule so students can see the two mats. Keep the height called out on each page so a full model fits on one line.
Color convention: blue = positive, red = negative, matching the chapter figures. If pages are printed in grayscale, add the instruction "shade negative pieces" wherever tiles are drawn.
Figure widths: every figure in this chapter is full width. fig2-balance-both-sides-sequence.png is the widest and fig4-tiles-both-sides-zero-pairs.png the tallest; give each its own block with no text wrapping beside it.
Check lines: every "Check: ______" blank is deliberate. Confirming a solution is its own graded skill in this standard (8.PFA.4g), so keep the blank even where space is tight.
Answer blanks: keep every blank on the same line as its prompt so the Canva text box does not reflow.