Final answer:
To solve the equation 16 + x = 12, we subtract 16 from both sides to isolate x, giving us x = -4. Checking the solution, we find that substituting -4 into the original equation indeed yields 12, confirming the solution is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve the equation 16 + x = 12, we need to isolate the variable x. This is done through the use of inverse operations, specifically by subtracting 16 from both sides of the equation, using the Subtraction Property of Equality. This gives us x = 12 - 16. Simplifying that expression, we find that x = -4.
To check if our answer is reasonable, we substitute -4 back into the original equation: 16 + (-4), which simplifies to 12, confirming that our solution is correct.