Answer: 7 or -1
Step-by-step explanation: Let the unknown number be x
Since the question did not say " positive " difference , we could interpret the statement in two ways:
1. 2x - 2 = x + 5
collecting the like terms
2x -x = 5 + 2
x = 7
2. 2 - 2x = x + 5
2 - 5 = x + 2x
-3 = 3x
x = -1
check: for the first one let us confirm if substituting 7 into the equation will give an equal result
2x - 2 = x + 5
2(7) - 2 = 7 + 5
14 - 2 = 12
12 = 12
you can see that they are equal
Let us confirm the other value too, by substituting -1 into the equation
2 - 2x = x + 5
2 - 2 ( -1 ) = -1 + 5
2 + 2 = 4
4 = 4
