Solve 2x - 3 = x + 5 for x.

Solve 2x - 3 = x + 5 for x.

• A. 3
• B. 8
• C. 5
• D. 10

Answer: (B)

Solving a linear equation by isolating the variable means get x by itself on one side so both sides balance. Start with 2x − 3 = x + 5. Subtract x from both sides to collect the x terms on the left: 2x − x − 3 = 5, which simplifies to x − 3 = 5. Then add 3 to both sides to isolate x: x = 8. Check: substitute 8 back into the original equation. Left side: 2(8) − 3 = 16 − 3 = 13. Right side: 8 + 5 = 13. Both sides match, so x = 8 is correct. The other values don’t satisfy the equation when plugged in, so they don’t balance the two sides.

Solving a linear equation by isolating the variable means get x by itself on one side so both sides balance. Start with 2x − 3 = x + 5. Subtract x from both sides to collect the x terms on the left: 2x − x − 3 = 5, which simplifies to x − 3 = 5. Then add 3 to both sides to isolate x: x = 8.

Check: substitute 8 back into the original equation. Left side: 2(8) − 3 = 16 − 3 = 13. Right side: 8 + 5 = 13. Both sides match, so x = 8 is correct. The other values don’t satisfy the equation when plugged in, so they don’t balance the two sides.