First, group and combine like terms on the left side of the equation:
#-3x - 2x + 5 - 2 = -3x - 5#
#(-3 - 2)x + (5 - 2) = -3x - 5#
#-5x + 3 = -3x - 5#
Next, add #color(red)(5x)# and #color(blue)(5)# to each side of the equation to isolate the #x# term while keeping the equation balanced:
#color(red)(5x) - 5x + 3 + color(blue)(5) = color(red)(5x) - 3x - 5 + color(blue)(5)#
#0 + 8 = (color(red)(5) - 3)x - 0#
#8 = 2x#
Now, divide each side of the equation by #color(red)(2)# to solve for #x# while keeping the equation balanced:
#8/color(red)(2) = (2x)/color(red)(2)#
#4 = (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(2)))x)/cancel(color(red)(2))#
#4 = x#
#x = 4#
