$$ \begin{aligned} \frac{1}{4}(x+3) &= 5&& \text{simplify left side} \\[1 em]\frac{x+3}{4} &= 5&& \text{multiply ALL terms by } \color{blue}{ 4 }. \\[1 em]4 \cdot \frac{x+3}{4} &= 4\cdot5&& \text{cancel out the denominators} \\[1 em]x+3 &= 20&& \text{ move 3 to the right } \\[1 em]x &= 20-3&& \\[1 em]x &= 17&& \\[1 em]x &= 17&& \\[1 em] \end{aligned} $$

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