How do I solve the equation 5x + 23 = 2x + 12?

To solve the equation 5x + 23 = 2x + 12, you need to follow the order of operations and isolate x step by step.

Here’s how you can do it:

1. Subtract 2x from both sides:
   You want to get all the x’s on one side of the equation. So, you subtract 2x from each side:

5x – 2x + 23 = 2x – 2x + 12
This simplifies to:
3x + 23 = 12

2. Subtract 23 from both sides:
   Now, to further isolate x, subtract 23 from both sides:

3x + 23 – 23 = 12 – 23
Simplifying this gives:
3x = -11

3. Divide by 3:
   Finally, divide both sides by 3 to solve for x:

x = -11 / 3

So the solution is x = -11/3 or approximately -3.67. By following these steps, you applied the correct order of operations to isolate the variable and find the value of x.