The answer is 144.
AC and CE have the same ratio as BA and DE. So you can get the answer by getting their proportions. 
  84   =   7 
156-x     x 
Cross multiply, transpose, and simplify to get the variable x.
84x = 1092-7x
84x + 7x = 1092
91x = 1092
x = 12
To get AC, substitute. 
AC = 156 - x
AC = 156 - 12
AC = 144