Question

x-5=4x-38

Answer 1

x - 5 = 4x - 38
we want to try to get the x terms on one side and everything else on the other side
so we will first subtract x from both sides. But be sure that whatever you do on one side of the equal sign, you have to do on the other side.
x - x - 5 = 4x - x - 38 -- combine like terms
-5 = 3x - 38 -- add 38 to both sides
-5 + 38 = 3x - 38 + 38 -- combine like terms
33 = 3x -- divide both sides by 3
33/3 = x
11 = x

check..
11 - 5 = 4(11) - 38
6 = 44 - 38
6 = 6 (correct)

answer : x = 11