How do I do algebra when there is an x on both sides?

If you are trying to work out what x is, then we need to end up with something that looks like: [x = ... ] On one side we have just 'x' and on the other side we have no 'x's. So x = 44 is already solved and so is x = 2y +3z +2.On the other hand, if it looks like 2x = x + 2 then we still have work to do. We can picture an equation as a set of old fashioned scales, both sides balanced around the equals sign (=). Everything on the left adds up to the same as everything on the right. If I add something to one side, I have to add the same amount to the other, or they will no longer be equal / 'balanced'. So to get to just x on one side we take away an x from both sides (maintaining the balance) and giving us, in this case, x = 2. We can work through more complex examples together