equation: 2x+6=38-x We move all terms to the left: 2x+6-(38-x)=0 We add all the numbers together, and all the variables 2x-(-1x+38)+6=0 We get rid of parentheses 2x+1x-38+6=0 We add all the numbers together, and all the variables 3x-32=0 We move all terms containing x to the left, all other terms to the right 3x=32 x=32/3 x=10+2/3