How to solve vatiable equations 5x-7=7x-17

Let's get the same terms on the same side.

I am going to remove 5x from both sides of the equation by subtracting 5x

5x - 5x - 7 = 7x - 5x - 17

-7 = 2x - 17 now lets remove the 17 from both sides

-7 + 17 = 2x (why do we add 17? Think of 2x - 17 as 2x + - 17. Tor remove a negative number we add it.

Now we finally have 10=2x and if we divide both sides by 2

10 = 2x

2 2 we get that x = 5

Let's check by substituting 5 in the original equation:

5 (5) - 7 = 7 (5) - 17

25 - 7 = 35 - 17

18 = 18