Answer:
To solve the equation 2(x + 8) = 7 + 5x, we will first distribute the 2 to the terms inside the parentheses:
2x + 16 = 7 + 5x
Next, we will group the x terms on one side of the equation and the constants on the other side:
2x - 5x = 7 - 16
-3x = -9
Finally, we will divide both sides of the equation by -3 to solve for x:
x = (-9) / (-3)
x = 3
Therefore, the solution to the equation is x = 3.