Question

5w+8-12w=16-15w

Answer 1

5w + 8 - 12w = 16 - 15w
-7w + 8 = 16 - 15w (add 15w to both sides)
-7w + 15w + 8 = 16 - 15w + 15w
combine like terms
8w + 8 = 16 (subtract 8 from each side)
8w + 8 - 8 = 16 - 8
combine like terms
8w = 8 (now divide by 8 to get w by itself)
8w/8 = 8/8
w = 1

check...
5w + 8 - 12w = 16 - 15w
5(1) + 8 - 12(1) = 16 - 15(1)
5 + 8 - 12 = 1
13 - 12 = 1
1 = 1 (correct)