Final answer:
The first step in solving the equation 3x + 2 = 5 is to subtract 2 from both sides, thus option B. Subtract 2 is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first step when solving the equation 3x + 2 = 5 is to isolate the variable x. To do this, you start by eliminating the constant term on the same side as the variable. The appropriate action here is subtract 2 from both sides of the equation to get:
3x + 2 - 2 = 5 - 2
3x = 3
Once we've subtracted 2 from both sides, we can divide by 3 to solve for x. Thus, the correct option is B. Subtract 2.