1. **State the problem:** We have a pyramid with three bricks. The top brick's value is the sum of the two bottom bricks' values. 2. **Given:** - Top brick: $8m + 7$ - Bottom left brick: $6m + 2$ - Bottom right brick: $?$ (unknown) 3. **Formula:** $$\text{Top brick} = \text{Bottom left brick} + \text{Bottom right brick}$$ 4. **Set up the equation:** $$8m + 7 = 6m + 2 + ?$$ 5. **Solve for $?$:** $$? = (8m + 7) - (6m + 2)$$ 6. **Simplify the right side:** $$? = 8m + 7 - 6m - 2$$ 7. **Combine like terms:** $$? = (8m - 6m) + (7 - 2)$$ $$? = 2m + 5$$ **Final answer:** $$? = 2m + 5$$