equations with x on both sides!?!?!?

You want to gather things alike to one side or the other.

The easiest way to gather all the x items to the left is by adding a -3x to both sides:

5x - 3x = 3x - 3x + 12

So now this is:

2x = 12

You want to solve for x, so divide both sides by 2 as shown:

2x/2 = 12/2

That becomes:

x = 6

5x = 3x + 12
5x - 3x = 12
2x = 12
x = 12/2
x = 6

Answer: x = 6

Proof:
5(6) = 3(6) + 12
30 = 18 + 12
30 = 30

remember that an equation remains an equality, so long as any operations are done systematically to both sides

you already realize that you have to get all your "x" terms on one side of the equal sign in order to solve for "x"

the way to do this is to subtract "3x" from both sides of the equations

5x=3x+12
-3x -3x

this gives the new but equivalent equation:

2x=12

which you can quickly solve (by dividing both sides by "2")
and get

x=6

makes sense?

5x = 3x + 12
5x - 3x = 3x - 3x - 12
2x = 12
x = 6

5x = 3x + 12
5x - 3x = 12
2x = 12
x = 12/2
x = 6

5x = 3x + 12
5x - 3x = 3x - 3x - 12
2x = 12
x = 6

5x = 3x + 12, subtract 3x from both sides of the equation
-3x -3x
2x = 12, divide each side by 2
x = 6

5x=3x +12
5x - 3x = 12
2x = 12
x = 6

You subtract 3x on both sides.
:D

5x-3x=12
2x=12
x=6

5x = 3x +12
-3x - 3x

2x= 12
x= 6