2x-5 equals x plus 7

Answer 1

This is a linear equation in one variable. Linear means the highest power exponent on any variable is 1 and the only variable is x. The way to solve these in general is to use the property that if two things are equal, we can add or subtract the same thing from both sides.
In this case:

2x-5=x+7
So we add 5 to both sides and we have

2x=x+12

Now subtract x from both sides and we have

x=12

It is always a good idea to check the answer.

2(12)-5=12+7
24-5=19
19=19 so the answer is correct.