6( 5-8x) +12= -54 30-48x+12=-54 this comes from distributing(multiplying) 6x5 and 6 times -8x 30+12-48x=-54 you have to add the coefficients 30+12 42-48x=-54 -42 -42 ----------------------- -48x=-96 divide by -48 x=2
You use the distributive property by distributing the 6 to 5 and -8x which gives you 30-48x+12=-54 then you subtract 30 and 12 from both sides to get -96 then divide by -48 to solve for x which gives you 2
