[<Answer>] (3):
Hello! I'm Avery. And I would love to help you :)
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[<The Explanation>}:
Step one: Distribute
![144 = -12(x + 5)](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=144%20%3D%20-12%28x%20%2B%205%29)
![144 = -12x - 60](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=144%20%3D%20-12x%20-%2060)
Step two: Add 60 to both sides
![144 = -12x - 60\\144 + 60 = -12 - 60 + 60](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=144%20%3D%20-12x%20-%2060%5C%5C144%20%2B%2060%20%3D%20-12%20-%2060%20%2B%2060)
Step three: Simplify
Adding..Adding..(Done!): ![204 = -12x](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=204%20%3D%20-12x)
Step four: Divide both sides by the same factor
![204 = -12x\\\frac{204}{-12} = \frac{-12x}{-12}](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=204%20%3D%20-12x%5C%5C%5Cfrac%7B204%7D%7B-12%7D%20%3D%20%5Cfrac%7B-12x%7D%7B-12%7D)
Last and not least..Step five:
Divide then, Cancel the terms, Move the Variable to the left...
And.. x = -17 is the answer :D
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[<Ending>] <3
Hope this helps and if it's wrong, you can't sue me! >:D
Bye! Hope this works for you :)
Have a nice day! - Avery <3