Question

12 - x = 20 - 5x I don't know how to solve this, please explain

Answer 1

12 - x = 20 - 5x

You see that -x and -5x both have an 'x' variable? This means they are 'like' terms. To get -x to the other side, we must add (if like terms are on opposite sides, do the opposite of what the sign says, e.g. - will be +)

12 = 20 - 4x

Now move 20 to the other side. Remember, do the opposite! Since 20 is positive, we must minus 20 to the other side.

-8 = -4x

To get x by itself, you will need to get rid of the coefficient of -4. -4x basically means -4 times x, so the opposite of that would be divide! Divide by -4

2 = x (Since both sides have a negative, they cancel out to give a positive)
x = 2