Three times a number plus 12 minus 5 times the same number is 22. What is the number?

3x + 12 - 5x = 22 -2x + 12 = 22 -2x = 10 x = -5 Write the equation out, x is going to be your unknown number. Combine like terms. We have to isolate x, so get rid of the 12 by subtracting it from both sides of the equation. Divide by -2.