Answer
$x = - 6.667$
Work Step by Step
$5x + 12= 2x-8$
$5x - 2x = -8 - 12$
$3x = -20$
$x = -\frac{20}{3}$
$x = - 6.667$
Check:
$5x + 12\overset{?}{=} 2x-8$
$5(-\frac{20}{3}) + 12\overset{?}{=} 2(-\frac{20}{3})-8$
$-\frac{100}{3} + 12\overset{?}{=} -\frac{40}{3}-8$
$-\frac{64}{3} = -\frac{64}{3}$