$$ \begin{aligned} 3x-\frac{1}{4} &= 5&& \text{multiply ALL terms by } \color{blue}{ 4 }. \\[1 em]4\cdot3x-4\cdot\frac{1}{4} &= 4\cdot5&& \text{cancel out the denominators} \\[1 em]12x-1 &= 20&& \text{ move -1 to the right } \\[1 em]12x &= 20+1&& \\[1 em]12x &= 21&& \text{ divide both sides by $ 12 $ } \\[1 em]x &= \frac{21}{12}&& \\[1 em]x &= \frac{7}{4}&& \\[1 em] \end{aligned} $$

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