combine like terms

5x - 12 - 6x = -10 + 7 - 1

To combine like terms, we'll add the coefficients of each term separately.

For the left side of the equation:
5x - 12 - 6x simplifies to (5x - 6x) - 12 which further simplifies to -x - 12.

For the right side of the equation:
-10 + 7 - 1 simplifies to -3.

Therefore, the final simplified equation is: -x - 12 = -3.

To combine like terms, we need to simplify both sides of the equation separately and then compare the similar terms.

On the left side of the equation, we have 5x - 12 - 6x. To combine the x terms, we add the coefficients:

5x - 6x = -1x or -x

So the left side simplifies to -x - 12.

Similarly, on the right side of the equation, we have -10 + 7 - 1. Combining the numbers:

-10 + 7 - 1 = -4

So the right side simplifies to -4.

Now, comparing the simplified left side (-x - 12) and the simplified right side (-4), we have:

-x - 12 = -4

Now, we can solve for x. To isolate the x term, we need to add 12 to both sides of the equation:

-x - 12 + 12 = -4 + 12

This simplifies to:

-x = 8

Finally, to solve for x, we need to multiply both sides of the equation by -1 (or divide both sides by -1):

x = -8

Therefore, the solution to the equation is x = -8 after combining like terms.