Let's go through that step again.

Original Equation:

The equation we started with was: $8x + 5 = x + 26$

Goal:

We want to isolate the $x$ term on one side of the equation.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Subtract $x$ from both sides:
   On the right side of the equation, we have $x$. To remove it from the right side, we subtract $x$ from both sides. $8x + 5 - x = x + 26 - x$ Simplifying this: $8x - x + 5 = 26$ $7x + 5 = 26$ Here, $8x - x$ simplifies to $7x$, which is how we get the $7x$.

Next Step:

To isolate $x$, subtract 5 from both sides, then divide by 7: $7x = 21$ $x = 3$

This process of combining like terms (in this case, $8x - x$) is essential for simplifying the equation to solve for the unknown variable.

Would you like further explanation or have any other questions?

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Here are 8 related questions for further practice:

1. How do you simplify $10x - 3x$ in an equation?
2. If you have $6x + 8 = 3x + 20$, what steps do you take to isolate $x$?
3. How do you handle equations with variables on both sides?
4. What is the next step after subtracting the same variable from both sides in an equation?
5. Can you explain why it’s necessary to combine like terms in an equation?
6. How do you solve $4x + 7 = 2x + 19$ for $x$?
7. What happens when you subtract a smaller term from a larger term on both sides of an equation?
8. How do you verify the solution to a linear equation?

Tip: Always perform the same operation on both sides of an equation to keep it balanced.