Question

Of the following options, what could be a possible first step in solving the equation −7x − 5 = x + 3?

Answer 1

Adding 7x to both sides of the equation

Answer 2

Your answer would be 

A. Adding 7x to both sides of the equation

And in doing so, you'd start your first step to having "like terms" on "like sides"
by having all "x's" on the right side of your equivalent sign "="