Question

2(x + 7) + 3x = 12 What is the first step in solving this equation for x?

Answer 1

First step is expand by using distributive property
2(x + 7) + 3x = 12 

step 1:
2x + 14 + 3x = 12

Answer 2

First step would be to expand it and make it 2x + 14 + 3x = 12

Second step would be to add 2x + 14 + 3x so it can be 5x + 14

Third step would be to subtract 14 from both sides

Fourth step would be to subtract 12 - 14 so it can be -2

Last step to get your answer would be to divide both sides by 5

Answer to this whole equation: x = -2/5.