1. **State the problem:** Solve for $x$ in the equation $3x - 5 = 16$. 2. **Write the formula and rules:** To solve for $x$, isolate $x$ by performing inverse operations. Addition and subtraction undo each other, as do multiplication and division. 3. **Add 5 to both sides:** $$3x - 5 + 5 = 16 + 5$$ $$3x = 21$$ 4. **Divide both sides by 3 to isolate $x$:** $$\frac{\cancel{3}x}{\cancel{3}} = \frac{21}{3}$$ $$x = 7$$ 5. **Final answer:** $x = 7$. This means that when $x$ is 7, the original equation holds true.