First, subtract 5 from both sides of the equal sign. 3/7x + 5 - 5 = 8 - 5 +5 and -5 cancel out 3/7x = 8-5=3 3/7x = 3 Now, divide both sides of the equation by (3/7). x = 3/(3/7) When you have to divide by a fraction, you can change it to multiplying by the reciprocal. The result will be the same. So,, change 3/3/7 to 3 x (7/3) Then solve 3 x 7 / 3 = 21/3 = 7 So,, x = 7.