solving this equation??

5 - 2x - 6 = 14
- 2x = 15
2x = - 15
x = - 7½

5 - 2(x + 3) = 14
5 - 2x - 6 = 14
2x = - 15
x = - 15/2
x = - 7 1/2

Answer: x = - 15/2 or - 7 1/2

Proof:
5 - 2(- 15/2 + 3) = 14
5 - 2(- 15/2 + 6/2) = 14
5 - 2(- 9/2) = 14
5 + 9 = 14

5 - 2x - 6 = 14
-2x = 14 - 5 + 6
-2x = 14 +1
x = -15/2

First, I would take care of the parenthesis by multiplying everything in the parenthesis by -2.

5-2(x+3)=14
5-2x-6=14 --> Distributive property: a(b+c)=ab+ac

Then, I would use addition and subtraction to get all the constants on one side and all the x's on the other.

5-2x-6=14
-5 +6 -5+6
-2x=14-5+6
-2x=15

Then, I would divide both sides by -2 to get x by itself.

-2x/-2=15/-2
x=-7.5

Check by replacing x with -7.5.

5-2(-7.5+3)=14
5-2(-4.5)=14
5+9=14
14=14

Therefore x is indeed -7.5.

Hope that helps!

5 - 2(x + 3) = 14
5 - 2*x - 2*3 = 14
5 - 2x - 6 = 14
-2x = 14 - 5 + 6
-2x = 9 + 6
-2x = 15
x = 15/-2
x = -7 1/2 (-7.5)

5-2x-6=14
-2x-1=14
-2x=15
x=-7.5

5 - 2(x + 3) = 14
5 - 2x - 6 = 14
2x = - 15
x = - 15/2
x = - 7 1/2
x = - 15/2

5-2(x+3)=14
-2(x+3)=14-5
-2x-6=9
-2x=9-6
-x=3/2
x=-1.5

5-2x-6=14
-2x-1=14
-2x=15
x=-7.5

-2(x+3)=9
x+3=-9/2
x=-9/2-3
x=-15/2