If 5x + 2 = 12, what is the value of x?

To solve the equation (5x + 2 = 12) and find the value of (x), we need to isolate (x) on one side of the equation.

First, we can start by eliminating the constant term on the left side. We do this by subtracting 2 from both sides of the equation:

[

5x + 2 - 2 = 12 - 2

]

This simplifies to:

[

5x = 10

]

Next, we need to isolate (x) by dividing both sides of the equation by 5:

[

\frac{5x}{5} = \frac{10}{5}

]

This simplifies to:

[

x = 2

]

Therefore, the correct value of (x) is 2. This result verifies that substituting (x = 2) back into the original equation gives (5(2) + 2 = 10 + 2 = 12), which confirms that the solution is consistent.

Understanding how to isolate a variable in an equation is a critical algebraic skill, and this process illustrates the steps necessary to solve for an unknown effectively.