## Introductory Algebra for College Students (7th Edition)

The solution is: $$x = 12$$ To check if the solution is correct, we plug $12$ in for $x$ into the original equation to see if both sides of the equation are equal: $$5(12) + 20 = 8(12) - 16$$ We simplify the equation by doing the multiplication first: $$60 + 20 = 96 - 16$$ We then do the addition and subtraction: $$80 = 80$$ Both sides are equal, so we know that the solution is correct.
To solve this equation, we need to isolate $x$ on one side of the equation and the constants on the other side. We need to first subtract $5x$ on both sides to move all $x$ terms to one side of the equation: $$20 = 3x - 16$$ We then add $16$ to both sides to move the constants to the other side of the equation: $$3x = 36$$ To isolate $x$, divide by $3$ on both sides: $$x = 12$$ To check if the solution is correct, we plug $12$ in for $x$ into the original equation to see if both sides of the equation are equal: $$5(12) + 20 = 8(12) - 16$$ We simplify the equation by doing the multiplication first: $$60 + 20 = 96 - 16$$ We then do the addition and subtraction: $$80 = 80$$ Both sides are equal, so we know that the solution is correct.