Solve for X in the Equation: x+3=5 (Basic Algebra)

Q: Why do I subtract 3 from both sides instead of just moving it?

Subtracting 3 from both sides maintains the balance of the equation. Think of it like a scale - whatever you do to one side, you must do to the other to keep it balanced!

Q: How do I know which operation to use?

Use the inverse operation of what's being done to x. Since we have $ x + 3 $, the inverse of adding 3 is subtracting 3.

Q: Can I solve this equation differently?

Yes! You could think of it as "what number plus 3 equals 5?" But the algebraic method of using inverse operations works for all linear equations, even complex ones.

Q: How do I check if my answer is correct?

Replace x with your answer in the original equation. For $ x = 2 $: does $ 2 + 3 = 5 $? Yes! So your answer is correct.

Linear Equations with Integer Solutions

Solve for X:

$x+3=5$

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Step-by-step video solution

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00:00 Solve

00:04 Isolate the unknown X

00:16 Simplify what we can

00:22 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

Solve for X:

$x+3=5$

Step-by-step solution

To solve the equation $x + 3 = 5$ , we will follow these steps:

Subtract 3 from both sides of the equation to isolate $x$ .
On the left, $x + 3 - 3 = x$ remains.
On the right, $5 - 3 = 2$ .
This gives us the equation: $x = 2$ .

Therefore, the solution to the equation is $x = 2$ .

Final Answer

$2$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Isolation Rule: Perform inverse operations to isolate the variable
Subtraction Method: Subtract 3 from both sides: 5 - 3 = 2
Verification: Substitute back into original equation: 2 + 3 = 5 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Adding instead of subtracting to isolate x
Don't add 3 to both sides when x + 3 = 5 gives x = 8! This makes the equation unbalanced because you're moving in the wrong direction. Always use the inverse operation - subtract 3 from both sides to cancel out the +3.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

$$ x+7=14 $$

$x=\text{?}$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do I subtract 3 from both sides instead of just moving it?

Subtracting 3 from both sides maintains the balance of the equation. Think of it like a scale - whatever you do to one side, you must do to the other to keep it balanced!

How do I know which operation to use?

Use the inverse operation of what's being done to x. Since we have $x + 3$ , the inverse of adding 3 is subtracting 3.

What if I get a negative answer?

Negative answers are completely valid! Always check your work by substituting back into the original equation to make sure both sides are equal.

Can I solve this equation differently?

Yes! You could think of it as "what number plus 3 equals 5?" But the algebraic method of using inverse operations works for all linear equations, even complex ones.

How do I check if my answer is correct?

Replace x with your answer in the original equation. For $x = 2$ : does $2 + 3 = 5$ ? Yes! So your answer is correct.

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