Final answer:
To solve the given equation, subtract 5x from both sides, add 26 to both sides and then divide by 2 to isolate x, resulting in x = 18, which is the answer (a).
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve for x in the equation 7x - 26 = 5x + 10, you first want to collect x terms on one side and constant terms on the other side. Here are the steps: Subtract 5x from both sides to get 2x - 26 = 10. Add 26 to both sides to get 2x = 36. Divide both sides by 2 to find the value of x, which gives us x = 18. Therefore, the correct answer is (a) x = 18. This step-by-step process demonstrates the algebraic manipulations required to solve for x systematically, ensuring clarity in understanding and arriving at the correct solution.