To simplify the equation \( 12 - 2(x + 1) = 5 \), we can follow these steps:
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Distribute the \(-2\) across \( (x + 1) \): \[ 12 - 2x - 2 = 5 \]
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Combine like terms on the left side: \[ 10 - 2x = 5 \]
So, the simplified version of the equation \( 12 - 2(x + 1) = 5 \) is: \[ 10 - 2x = 5 \]