\(\displaystyle Isolate \ x \ and \ then \ solve.\)
\(\displaystyle Just \ remember, \ an \ equation \ is \ like \ a \ balance, \ if \ you \ take \ away \ something \ from\)
\(\displaystyle one \ side, \ you \ must \ take \ the \ same \ "something" \ away \ from \ the \ other \ side \ to \ keep\)
\(\displaystyle the \ "scales" \ balance. \ The \ only \ exception \ is \ you \ can \ multiply \ one \ side \ of \ the \ balance\)
\(\displaystyle by \ one \ and \ leave \ the \ other \ side \ alone, \ since \ you \ haven't \ change \ anything.\)
\(\displaystyle 5 \ = \ 5, \ (5)(1) \ = \ 5.\)