First, multiply each side of the equation by #color(red)(15)# to eliminate the fractions while keeping the equation balanced:
#color(red)(15) xx (16.5 + 3t)/3 = color(red)(15) xx (0.9 - t)/(-5)#
#cancel(color(red)(15)) 5 xx (16.5 + 3t)/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(3))) = cancel(color(red)(15)) (-3) xx (0.9 - t)/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(-5)))#
#5(16.5 + 3t) = -3(0.9 - t)#
Next, expand the terms within parenthesis:
#(5 xx 16.5) + (5 xx 3t) = (-3 xx 0.9) - (-3 xx t)#
#82.5 + 15t = -2.7 + 3t#
Then, subtract #color(blue)(82.5)# and #color(red)(3t)# from each side of the equation to isolate the #t# term while keeping the equation balanced:
#82.5 + 15t - color(blue)(82.5) - color(red)(3t) = -2.7 + 3t - color(blue)(82.5) - color(red)(3t)#
#82.5 - color(blue)(82.5) + 15t - color(red)(3t) = -2.7 - color(blue)(82.5) + 3t - color(red)(3t)#
#0 + 12t = -85.2 + 0#
#12t = -85.2#
Now, divide each side of the equation by #color(red)(12)# to solve for #t# while keeping the equation balanced:
#(12t)/color(red)(12) = -85.2/color(red)(12)#
#(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(12)))t)/cancel(color(red)(12)) = -7.1#
#t = -7.1#