Hi Ethel,

You want to solve this equation for x and to do this you need to manipulate the equation, always keeping the equality valid, and end with an equation x = some number. To isolate the x on the left side of the equation you need forat to eliminate the 3. You can do this by subtracting 3 from both sides of the equation.The equality remains valid and you get

x/2 + 3 = 2
x/2 + 3 - 3 = 2 - 3
x/2 = -1

The left side now is x/2 and you want x alone so multiply both sides by 2. This gives

2(x/2) = 2(-1)
x = -2.

I hope this helps,
Penny