| - | 16 | ÷ | ( | - | 1 | + | 3 | ( | 5 | x | + | 19 | ) | ) | + | 8 | = | 12 |
| Multiply both sides of the equation by: | ( | - | 1 | + | 3 | ( | 5 | x | + | 19 | ) | ) |
| - | 16 | + | 8 | ( | - | 1 | + | 3 | ( | 5 | x | + | 19 | ) | ) | = | 12 | ( | - | 1 | + | 3 | ( | 5 | x | + | 19 | ) | ) |
| - | 16 | − | 8 | × | 1 | + | 8 | × | 3 | ( | 5 | x | + | 19 | ) | = | 12 | ( | - | 1 | + | 3 | ( | 5 | x | + | 19 | ) | ) |
| - | 16 | − | 8 | × | 1 | + | 8 | × | 3 | ( | 5 | x | + | 19 | ) | = | - | 12 | × | 1 | + | 12 | × | 3 | ( | 5 | x | + | 19 | ) |
| - | 16 | − | 8 | + | 24 | ( | 5 | x | + | 19 | ) | = | - | 12 | + | 36 | ( | 5 | x | + | 19 | ) |
| - | 24 | + | 24 | ( | 5 | x | + | 19 | ) | = | - | 12 | + | 36 | ( | 5 | x | + | 19 | ) |
| - | 24 | + | 24 | × | 5 | x | + | 24 | × | 19 | = | - | 12 | + | 36 | ( | 5 | x | + | 19 | ) |
| - | 24 | + | 24 | × | 5 | x | + | 24 | × | 19 | = | - | 12 | + | 36 | × | 5 | x | + | 36 | × | 19 |
| - | 24 | + | 120 | x | + | 456 | = | - | 12 | + | 180 | x | + | 684 |
| 432 | + | 120 | x | = | 672 | + | 180 | x |
| 120 | x | − | 180 | x | = | 672 | − | 432 |
| - | 60 | x | = | 672 | − | 432 |
| - | 60 | x | = | 240 |
| - | 240 | = | 60 | x |
| 60 | x | = | - | 240 |
| x | = | - | 240 | ÷ | 60 |
| = | - | 240 | × | 1 60 |
| = | - | 4 | × | 1 |
| x | = | - | 4 |