Step by step:
\(5x - 17 = -x + 7\), then add x to both sides:
\(6x-17=7\), add 17 to both sides:
\(6x=24\), divide both sides by 6:
\(x=\boxed{4}\)
5x - 17 = -x + 7
separate numbers and variables...or add x to both sides
5x + x = 7 + 17
6x = 24
divide both sides by 6
x = 24/6
x = \(\left [ 4\right ]\)