1. **State the problem:** Solve for $x$ in the equation $3x + 5 = 27$. 2. **Formula and rules:** To solve a linear equation, isolate the variable $x$ by performing inverse operations. 3. **Step 1:** Subtract 5 from both sides to remove the constant term on the left: $$3x + 5 - 5 = 27 - 5$$ which simplifies to $$3x = 22$$ 4. **Step 2:** Divide both sides by 3 to solve for $x$: $$x = \frac{22}{3}$$ 5. **Final answer:** $$x = \frac{22}{3} \approx 7.33$$ This means $x$ is approximately 7.33 when rounded to two decimal places.