5x – 2(x + 7) = -5
mutiply the bracket by -2
(-2)(x)= -2x
(-2)(7)= -14
5x-2x-14=-5
3x-14= -5
move -14 to the other side, sign changes from -14 to +14
3x-14+14= -5+14
3x= 9
divide by 3 for both sides
3x/3= 9/3
x= 3
Answer: x= 3