Understanding the Equation
To solve the equation x - 2 = 3x + 5, we need to isolate the variable (x) on one side of the equation. This process involves moving terms around while maintaining the equality.
Step-by-Step Solution
1. Rearranging the Equation:
- Start with the original equation:
- x - 2 = 3x + 5
- To simplify, we want to get all the x terms on one side and the constant terms on the other.
2. Moving x Terms:
- Subtract x from both sides:
- x - 2 - x = 3x + 5 - x
- This simplifies to:
- -2 = 2x + 5
3. Isolating the x Term:
- Next, we need to move the constant (5) from the right side to the left side:
- -2 - 5 = 2x + 5 - 5
- This results in:
- -7 = 2x
4. Solving for x:
- Finally, divide both sides by 2 to isolate x:
- -7/2 = x
- Therefore:
- x = -3.5
Final Answer
The solution to the equation x - 2 = 3x + 5 is:
- x = -3.5
Using these steps, you can solve similar equations by rearranging and isolating the variable!