Your first goal is to get all the X’s to one side of the equation.
So:
3x - 5 = 9x + 8 - 5x
+5x +5x
8x - 5 = 9x + 8
-9x -9x
-1x - 5 = 8
Now that you have all the X variables simplified and on one side, you make sure all of you constant terms are on the other side.
-1x - 5 = 8
+5 +5
-1x = 13
Because you can’t have a negative X, you divide the entire equation by -1.
-1x = 13
-1
x = -13
Dividing by -1 will give you the inverse of the equation which is positive one x equals negative thirteen.