Hi,

I'm going to look at a different example.

Solve for x where 9x - 5 = 3x + 7.

The method is to manipulate the equation, always keeping the left side equal to the right side, and end with an equation of the form

x = some number.

There are two operations on the equation that will maintain the equality, you can add the same number to each side and you can multiply each side by the same number.

Start with

9x - 5 = 3x + 7

I don't want an x term on the right side so I add -3x to each side

9x - 5 - 3x = 3x + 7 - 3x

which simplifies to

6x - 5 = 7.

Now add 5 to each side.

6x - 5 + 5 = 7 + 5

or

6x = 12.

Finally multiply each side by 1/2 to get

1/2 × (6x) = 1/2 × (12)

which is

x = 2.

Now try your equation.
Penny