A reasonable first step to solve the equation \( 2(x + 6) = 3(x - 4) + 5 \) is to distribute. Specifically, you can either:
- Distribute 2 to \( (x + 6) \) on the left side of the equation, which gives you \( 2x + 12 \).
- Or distribute 3 to \( (x - 4) \) on the right side of the equation, which gives you \( 3x - 12 \).
Either distribution will help simplify the equation and move you towards solving it.
Thus, one good first step is: Distribute 2 to (x + 6) and 3 to (x – 4).