how do I work this problem? a+3+5=16a=
To solve the equation, you want to get all the a's on one side, and the numbers on the other. To do that, recall that as long as you do the same operation to both sides of the equation, it remains true. So, a good first step would be to simplify just a bit:
a+8=16a
Now, if you subtract a from both sides, that gets rid of any a's on the left:
a+8-a = 16a-a
8 = 15a
Almost there. We know what 15a is, but we want just one a. Divide both sides by 15, and we get:
8/15 = 15a/15
8/15 = a
Ta da...