Use inductive reasoning to find the next equation in the pattern.

    8 - 5 + 3 = 2 x 3
  13 - 8 + 5 = 2 x 5
21 - 13 + 8 = 2 x 8
 

If the last step was

a-b+c = 2c

then the next step is

(a+b)-a+b = 2b

To find the next equation in the pattern, we can use inductive reasoning.

Looking at the given equations, we see a pattern in the numbers being subtracted, added, and multiplied. Let's break down the pattern:

Equation 1: 8 - 5 + 3 = 2 x 3
Equation 2: 13 - 8 + 5 = 2 x 5
Equation 3: 21 - 13 + 8 = 2 x 8

In each equation, we subtract the result from the previous equation by a decreasing number and then add a previous result to it. Finally, the result is equal to 2 multiplied by the number in the equation.

Applying this pattern to find the next equation, we can take the result of Equation 3 (21) and subtract it by a decreasing number. In this case, let's subtract it by 21 - 13 = 8. Then, we will add the previous result (21) to it.

21 - 8 + 21 = 2 x 21

Therefore, the next equation in the pattern would be:

29 - 21 + 8 = 2 x 21