First, group and combine like terms on the left side of the equation:
2x + 12 - 7x = -22x+12−7x=−2
2x - 7x + 12 = -22x−7x+12=−2
(2 - 7)x + 12 = -2(2−7)x+12=−2
-5x + 12 = -2−5x+12=−2
Next, subtract color(red)(12)12 from each side of the equation to isolate the xx term while keeping the equation balanced:
-5x + 12 - color(red)(12) = -2 - color(red)(12)−5x+12−12=−2−12
-5x + 0 = -14−5x+0=−14
-5x = -14−5x=−14
Now, divide each side of the equation by color(red)(-5)−5 to solve for xx while keeping the equation balanced:
(-5x)/color(red)(-5) = -14/color(red)(-5)−5x−5=−14−5
(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(-5)))x)/cancel(color(red)(-5)) = 14/5
x = 14/5