Answer:
![x = -4](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=x%20%3D%20-4)
Step-by-step explanation:
As I was taught in Algebra class, we use the distributive property to solve this, although there are other ways.
![3(x+2)-7 = 5x + 7](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=3%28x%2B2%29-7%20%3D%205x%20%2B%207)
Step 1: Distribute.
We are going to distribute 3 to
and +2 (positive 2). Which means multiplying 3 to
and 2.
![3(x+2)\\3\cdot x = 3x\\3\cdot 2 = 6\\\\= 3x+6](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=3%28x%2B2%29%5C%5C3%5Ccdot%20x%20%3D%203x%5C%5C3%5Ccdot%202%20%3D%206%5C%5C%5C%5C%3D%203x%2B6)
So, therefore, we have ![3x+6-7=5x+7](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=3x%2B6-7%3D5x%2B7)
Step 2: Combine like terms.
Combining like terms simply means adding, values that are alike. For example, we can only add
and
,
and
, or a number and another number. Note, we can only combine like terms on one side of the equation, meaning at the end of the equal to sign.
![3x+\bold6\:\:\bold-\bold7=5x+7](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=3x%2B%5Cbold6%5C%3A%5C%3A%5Cbold-%5Cbold7%3D5x%2B7)
Here we have +6 and -7, so adding those two would result in -1
So, therefore, we have
Step 3: Solve for ![x](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=x)
![3x-1=5x+7](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=3x-1%3D5x%2B7)
![3x-1=5x+7\\\:\:\:\:-7\:\:\:\:\:\:\:\:\:\:\:\:\:\:\:\:\:-7](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=3x-1%3D5x%2B7%5C%5C%5C%3A%5C%3A%5C%3A%5C%3A-7%5C%3A%5C%3A%5C%3A%5C%3A%5C%3A%5C%3A%5C%3A%5C%3A%5C%3A%5C%3A%5C%3A%5C%3A%5C%3A%5C%3A%5C%3A%5C%3A%5C%3A-7)
7 - 7 = 0, so it cancels that side out.
-1 + 7 = -8, so we are left with;
![3x-8=5x](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=3x-8%3D5x)
- Subtract 3
from both sides
![3x-8=5x\\-3\:\:\:\:\:\:-3x](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=3x-8%3D5x%5C%5C-3%5C%3A%5C%3A%5C%3A%5C%3A%5C%3A%5C%3A-3x)
3x - 3x = 0, so it cancels that side out.
5 - 3 = -2, so we are left with;
![-8=2x](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=-8%3D2x)
![\frac{2x}{2}=\frac{-8}{2}](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=%5Cfrac%7B2x%7D%7B2%7D%3D%5Cfrac%7B-8%7D%7B2%7D)
2 over 2 cancels out
![\frac{-8}{2} = -4](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=%5Cfrac%7B-8%7D%7B2%7D%20%3D%20-4)
<h3>x = -4</h3>