ok so in order to solve you need to get the variable by itself, in this case it is x. The first thing you do is add or subtract. You add 3 to the left side to cancel it and whatever is done to one side must be done to the other which is why you add 3 to 2. Now the equation is 2x=5. In order to get the x by itself you must divide by 2. When you divide 2x by 2, the 2 will cancel out. Again, you have to do the same thing to the other side. 5 divided by 2 is 5/2, so x=5/2 is your answer. To check, plug in 5/2 for x. 2 times 5/2 is 5 and 5-3 is 2. 2=2 so the answer is correct. Hope this helped!