Solve: 3x + 2 = 11.

**The reasoning** This is a simple linear equation. Your goal: isolate x on one side. Start with: 3x + 2 = 11 **Step 1:** Get rid of the +2 by subtracting 2 from both sides: 3x + 2 − 2 = 11 − 2 3x = 9 **Step 2:** Divide both sides by 3 to find x: x = 9 ÷ 3 = **3** This is called "inverse operations" — you undo addition with subtraction, and undo multiplication with division. **Why the wrong options tempt you** - **Option A (1):** Maybe you subtracted 2 from 3 instead of solving properly - **Option B (2):** Perhaps you confused the constant term (2) with the answer - **Option D (5):** You might have added instead of subtracted, getting 3x = 13, then made another error These mistakes happen when you rush or skip the step-by-step working. **Quick takeaway** Whatever you do to one side of an equation, do to the other — then work backwards through the operations to free your variable.