How do you solve #2s - 5= 12#?

Question

999 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2017-08-28T16:42:55

Add #5# to both sides
then divide both sides by #2#
to get #s=17/2= 8 1/2#

Answer 2 · 2017-08-28T16:52:53

See a solution process below:

First, add #color(red)(5)# to each side of the equation to isolate the #s# term while keeping the equation balanced:

#2s - 5 + color(red)(5) = 12 + color(red)(5)#

#2s - 0 = 17#

#2s = 17#

Now, divide each side of the equation by #color(red)(2)# to solve for #s# while keeping the equation balanced:

#(2s)/color(red)(2) = 17/color(red)(2)#

#(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(2)))s)/cancel(color(red)(2)) = 17/2#

#s = 17/2#

Or

#s = 8.5#