Step-by-step explanation: To solve for <em>n</em>, we must first isolate the term containing <em>n</em> which in this problem is 3n.
Since 8 is being added to 3n, we subtract 8 from both sides of the equation to isolate the 3n. On the left, the +8 and -8 cancel out and on the right 23 - 8 is 15.
So we have 3n = 15.
Now we can finish things off by just dividing both sides of the equation by 3. On the left the 3's cancel and on the right 15 divided by 3 is 5 so <em>n = 5 </em>and you can check your answer by plugging 5 back in for <em>n</em> in the original equation which is shown below in bold.