Choice Dhoice C is the correct answer. We divide both sides by the coefficient to solve.

1. Start with the equation: $12x = 144$
2. Divide both sides by 12: $x = \frac{144}{12}$
3. Simplify: $x = 12$
4. Verify: $12(12) = 144$ ✓

Notice that in this case, the coefficient (12) equals the solution (12). This happens when the right side is a perfect square of the coefficient.

💡 Pattern: $12^2 = 144$, so when we divide 144 by 12, we get 12 back.

Choice Dhoice A is incorrect because this results from adding: $144 + 12 = 156$. Addition is not the inverse of multiplication.

Choice Dhoice D is incorrect because this comes from subtracting: $144 - 12 = 132$. Subtraction doesn't undo multiplication.

Choice Dhoice C is incorrect because this results from multiplying: $144 \times 12 = 1728$. This makes the product even larger instead of isolating $x$.