$$ \begin{aligned} \frac{1}{2}(x+12) &= -20&& \text{simplify left side} \\[1 em]\frac{x+12}{2} &= -20&& \text{multiply ALL terms by } \color{blue}{ 2 }. \\[1 em]2 \cdot \frac{x+12}{2} &= 2\cdot(-20)&& \text{cancel out the denominators} \\[1 em]x+12 &= -40&& \text{ move 12 to the right } \\[1 em]x &= -40-12&& \\[1 em]x &= -52&& \\[1 em]x &= -52&& \\[1 em] \end{aligned} $$

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