Answer: x = -8 or x = 2
Step-by-step explanation: Follow your rule for solving absolute value equations. Since the absolute value is isolated on one side of the equation, we can split the problem up into two separate equations.
The first equation will be identical to the original except it won't have the absolute value signs which are the vertical bars.
In this case, that equation is x + 5 = -3.
The second equation will look like the first, only the right side will be changed to a positive. So in this case, that equation is x + 5 = 3.
Now simply solve each equation to get x = -8 or x = -2.
You can check both of these answers by plugging them back in for x in the original problem and you will see that they both work.