Geometry

Oh! and also 5-2x is both over 8. The same goes to the other side. 3x+1 is all over 4.

5-2x/8 = 3x+1/4

[5 - 2x] / 8 = [3x + 1] / 4

Solve for x:

(5-2 x)/8 = (3 x+1)/4

Multiply both sides by 8:

(8 (5-2 x))/8 = (8 (3 x+1))/4

(8 (5-2 x))/8 = 8/8×(5-2 x) = 5-2 x:

5-2 x = (8 (3 x+1))/4

8/4 = (4×2)/4 = 2:

5-2 x = 2 (3 x+1)

Expand out terms of the right hand side:

5-2 x = 6 x+2

Subtract 6 x from both sides:

5+(-(2 x)-6 x) = (6 x-6 x)+2

-2 x-6 x = -8 x:

-8 x+5 = (6 x-6 x)+2

6 x-6 x = 0:

5-8 x = 2

Subtract 5 from both sides:

(5-5)-8 x = 2-5

5-5 = 0:

-8 x = 2-5

2-5 = -3:

-8 x = -3

Divide both sides of -8 x = -3 by -8:

(-8 x)/(-8) = (-3)/(-8)

(-8)/(-8) = 1:

x = (-3)/(-8)

The sign of (-3)/(-8) is positive, so (-3)/(-8) = 1×3/8:

Answer: |x = 3/8