You solve equations by getting the variable all by itself on one side of the equal sign. And whatever the variable equals will be on the opposite side of the variable.
For example, x + 2 = 10 It is a simple expression. Something is being added to x to get 10. So, what could we do to get the x variable all by itself? Well, the answer is simply. We can subtract 2 from the left-hand side to get the x variable by itself.
But remember, anything you do on one side of the equation, you must do on the other side.
x + 2 - 2 = 10 - 2 x = 8
In this case, x is equal to 8.
Now let's tackle the expression you wanted to be solved.
-14 + 5x = -12
We see that the x variable is on the left-hand side of the equation. And it is being multiplied by 5 and is being subtracted by 14.
Adding a negative number to a positive number is the same thing as subtracting from the positive number.
So, we could rearrange the left-hand side to be 5x - 14.
Now we have 5x - 14 = -12
Let's first add 14 to the left-hand side. If we add 14 to the left-hand side of the equation, the -14 will be gone!
But, if we do one thing on one side of the equation, we must also do the same thing to the other side of the equation.
5x - 14 + 14 = -12 + 14 5x = 2
Now we have the equation 5x = 2
What can we do now? Well, the x variable is being multiplied by 5. So, how can we reverse that operation to get the x variable by itself?
We can divide the 5x term by 5. That way will get the x variable all by itself. And whatever we do on one side, we must do on the other side.
