Solve for x 16x-5=18x-2

$16 x - 5 = 18 x - 2$

Step 1

Move all terms containing $x$ to the left side of the equation.

Subtract $18 x$ from both sides of the equation.

$16 x - 5 - 18 x = - 2$

Subtract $18 x$ from $16 x$ .

$- 2 x - 5 = - 2$

Step 2

Move all terms not containing $x$ to the right side of the equation.

Add $5$ to both sides of the equation.

$- 2 x = - 2 + 5$

Add $- 2$ and $5$ .

$- 2 x = 3$

Step 3

Divide each term in $- 2 x = 3$ by $- 2$ and simplify.

Divide each term in $- 2 x = 3$ by $- 2$ .

$\frac{- 2 x}{- 2} = \frac{3}{- 2}$

Simplify the left side.

Cancel the common factor of $- 2$ .

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{- 2 x}{- 2} = \frac{3}{- 2}$

Divide $x$ by $1$ .

$x = \frac{3}{- 2}$

Simplify the right side.

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$x = - \frac{3}{2}$

Step 4

The result can be shown in multiple forms.

Exact Form:

$x = - \frac{3}{2}$

Decimal Form:

$x = - 1.5$

Mixed Number Form:

$x = - 1 \frac{1}{2}$