Solve for the  variable (get it on one side of the equal sign by itself) by doing the inverse or opposite of what is being done to the variable on both sides of the equal sign. 

x+7 = 2 (subtract 7 on both sides, because 7 is being added to x)

x-7=2 (add 7 on both sides, because 7 is being subtracted from x)

7x =2 (divide by 7 on both sides, because 7 is being multiplied by x)

x/7 = 2 (multiply by 7 on both sides, because x is being divided by 7)