To solve: 7p - 3 = 32
Remove numbers by using inverses: the inverse of adding is subtracting
the inverse of subtracting is adding
the inverse of multiplying is dividing
the inverse of dividing is multiplying.
Generally, it is easier to get rid of addition and subtractions before getting rid of multiplication or division.
So, in 7p - 3 = 32
get rid of - 3 by adding 3:
7p - 3 + 3 = 32 + 3
7p = 35
Now, since the 7 is multiplied to the p, get rid of this multiplication by dividing by 7:
7p / 7 = 35 / 7
p = 5