5x + 3 = 7x – 1. Find x

a. 1/3
b. ½
c. 1
d. 2

Step-by-step explanation:

First you need to get like items on the same side(put the variables on one side and the non-variables on the other).  Remember anything you do on one side of the equal, you have to do on the other side, too.

5X+3=7X-1   I'm going to move the -1 first, but you don't have to as long as you keep the equation equal.

5X+3+1=7X-1+1    We know that +1-1 is zero and so is -1+1.  So

5X+3+1=7X      We don't need to keep that zero.

5X+4=7X         Now, we want to move the 5X over.

5X-5X+4=7X-5X    Simplify and get rid of the zero.

4=2X             Last, we have to divide to get the 2 away from the X.

4/2=2X/2            Not everyone know that slash mean divide, :-).

2=X