3x less than 2 times the sum of 2x and 1 is equal to the sum of 2 and 5

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3x less than 2 times the sum of 2x and 1 is equal to the sum of 2 and 5

This is an algebraic expression. Let's take this algebraic expression in 5 parts:

1. The sum of 2x and 1 means we add 1 to 2x: 2x + 1
2. 2 times the sum of 2x and 1: 2(2x + 1)
3. 3x less than the sum of 2x and 1 means we subtract 3x from 2(2x + 1): 2(2x + 1) - 3x
4. The sum of 2 and 5 means we add 5 to 2: 2 + 5
5. Finally, the phrase equal means an equation, so we set #3 equal to #4

Our algebraic expression is:
2(2x + 1) - 3x = 2 + 5

Now, some problems may ask you to simplify. In this case, we multiply through and group like terms:
4x + 2 - 3x = 7
x + 2 = 7 <-- This is our simplified algebraic expression

Now, what if the problem asks you to solve for x, you type this into our search engine and get:
x = 5