$$ \begin{aligned} 31 &= 81-2e&& \text{ swap the left and right side of the equation } \\[1 em]81-2e &= 31&& \text{ move 81 to the right } \\[1 em]-2e &= 31-81&& \\[1 em]-2e &= -50&& \text{ divide both sides by $ -2 $ } \\[1 em]e &= \frac{-50}{-2}&& \\[1 em]e &= 25&& \\[1 em] \end{aligned} $$