10x-(x-5)=23

1. Remove the parentheses and distribute the negative:

10x-x+5=23

2. Combine like terms:

9x+5=23

3. Subtract 5 from both sides:

9x=18

4. Divide both sides by 9:

x=2

10x-(x-5)=23

removing the parenthesis gives

10x-x+5 = 23   (hint - the minus sign if front of the parenthesis * -5 = +5)

Combining like terms gives

9x + 5 = 23

Subtracting 5 from both sides gives

9x = 18

Dividing both side by 9 gives

x = 2

Katie,

This is straight forward:  collect terms and isolate x as follows:

10x-(x-5)=23

disstribute -1 to the terms in the paranthesis:

10x -x +5 =23

collect the x terms:

9x +5 =23

subtract +5 from both sides of the = sign:

9x +5 -5 = 23 -5

9x = 18

divide both sides by 9:

x = 18/9

x= 2

There you go!

BruceS