1. Let's start by stating the problem: We want to understand how to solve a simple algebraic equation with the help of an example. 2. Consider the equation $2x + 3 = 7$. Our goal is to find the value of $x$ that makes this equation true. 3. The formula or rule we use here is to isolate $x$ on one side of the equation. This means we want to get $x$ alone on one side. 4. First, subtract 3 from both sides to keep the equation balanced: $$2x + 3 - 3 = 7 - 3$$ which simplifies to $$2x = 4$$ 5. Next, divide both sides by 2 to solve for $x$: $$\frac{2x}{2} = \frac{4}{2}$$ which simplifies to $$x = 2$$ 6. So, the solution to the equation $2x + 3 = 7$ is $x = 2$. 7. To check, substitute $x = 2$ back into the original equation: $$2(2) + 3 = 4 + 3 = 7$$ which is true, confirming our solution. This example shows how to solve a basic linear equation by isolating the variable step-by-step.