the stargazer is 24 miles away from the center of the city.
reasoning:
in order to solve the equation, you have to substitute 71 for y. you then get an equation that looks like this:
71 = 2.75x + 5
now we have to get rid of the +5. what you do to one side of the equation, you have to do to the other. SUBTRACT 5 from both sides. you now have:
66 = 2.75x
now you have to isolate the variable (the x). in order to do that, you have to DIVIDE both sides by 2.75, since that is the number that is attached to the variable. you are now left with:
24 = x
which is the answer to the equation because x represents the number of miles away from the center of the city the stargazer is.
i hope this helped!