Simplifying 7p + 2 = 5p + 8 Reorder the terms: 2 + 7p = 5p + 8 Reorder the terms: 2 + 7p = 8 + 5p Solving 2 + 7p = 8 + 5p Solving for variable 'p'. Move all terms containing p to the left, all other terms to the right. Add '-5p' to each side of the equation. 2 + 7p + -5p = 8 + 5p + -5p