<span>Subtracting 2x from both sides of the equation would be a reasonable first step in solving this equation as it properly combines like terms to the left side of the equation. It quickly shows that the next step would be adding 1 to both sides of the equation, which would have us arrive at the answer of x = 5.</span>
First you raise the expressions in the parentheses to their powers. Then multiply the two expressions together. You get to see multiplying exponents (raising a power to a power) and adding exponents (multiplying same bases).
