This is the main condition for solving any simple linear equation.
Solve x - 3 = -5
Since I want to get x by itself, I don't want the "-3" that's with the variable. The opposite of subtraction is addition, so I'll undo the –3 by adding 3 to both sides, and then adding down:
x−3=−5+3+3x=−2
Then the solution is x = -2.