Alright, so from what I understand, you need to create an equation with the solution x=5. One of the steps must include the distributive property. The distributive property essentially means that in x(y+z) with each letter representing a number, it turns into xy+xz. Since 5 is a prime number, we could work backwards. Just tossing out ideas, 5*4=20, so one step in your equation could be 20/4=x and dividing the 4. What's 4? 2 times 2, so we can make it 20/(2*2)=x. 1+1=2, so we can add that step. 20/((1+1)(2))=x, since 1+1=2 ,2*2=4, and 20/4=5. How do we extend 20? 20 equals 2*10, so we can make it (2*10)/((1+1)(2)). For a random thing to add, we can add 20-20 to the equation - it essentially does nothing but add a step since it equals 0, making our equation 20-20+(2*10)/((1+1)(2)).=x. In addition, since x is 5 and positive, we can square 5 (25) and find the square root of 25 to get 5, making our equation now sqrt(((20-20+(2*10)/((1+1)(2))))^2) =x. To decode it, we first cancel the sqrt (square root) and square. Now we know it is positive due to all square roots are positive. The equation is then ((20-20+(2*10)/((1+1)(2))) After that, we can multiply 2 and 10, making it 20-20+(20/((1+1)(2))). Next, we can use the distributive property to multiply 2*1 and 2*1, making it (20/(2+2))-20+20. Adding 2+2 and subtracting 20 from 20, we then get (20/4)=5=x. I challenge you to use something similar, but not the exact thing!