Question 975097
3x + 1 = (x - 5) / 2 

Multiply both sides by 2 to clear fractions.

6x+2=x-5

5x+2=-5  subtracting x from both sides
5x=-7, subtracting -2 from both sides

x=(-7/5), dividing both sides by 5

-(21/5)+1=[(-7/5)-(25/5)]/2

-16/5=  (-32/5)/2, and that is -16/5  check.