Question

Solve: 5(x + 8) = 7(x − 2)

Answer 1

\[\Large \begin{array}{l}
5(x + 8) = 7(x - 2)\\
5x + 40 = 7x - 14\\
- 2x = - 54\\
x = \frac{{54}}{2} = 27
\end{array}\]

Answer 2

you need to simplify it first,
so you use distributive property.
Solve: 5(x + 8) = 7(x − 2)
= 5x + 40 = 7x -14
then you move all the variables (x) onto one side and all the other numbers (+40 and -14) onto the other side.
5x +40 (-40) = 7x -14 (-40)
5x= 7x -54
5x (-7x) = 7x (-7x) -54
-2x = -54
then you isolate for x...
(-2x ÷ -2) = (-54 ÷-2)
x= -27
:)