Which is a reasonable first step that can be used to solve the equation 2 times open paren x plus 6 close paren is equal to 3 times open paren x minus 4 close paren plus 5 ?

A reasonable first step is to use the distributive property on both sides: 2(x + 6) becomes 2x + 12, and 3(x − 4) becomes 3x − 12. The equation then reads 2x + 12 = 3x − 12 + 5. Choice D correctly says to distribute 2 and 3 to every term inside their respective parentheses.

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